RonaldODowd

A member since December 27, 2007 22:13

Message

Comment History

Optimism still strong but muted (Nanos Economic Monitor, Second Quarter 2010) (2010-07-07)

• Bernie, Being the Government of Canada seems to be on track for a becoming a bittersweet experience...this Prime Minister had better pray that the opposit...
• CPC Senator Richard Neufeld: The Waiting Game. Now that Senator Neufeld has come out in favour of the present Senate, speculation is mounting as to whethe...
• Bernie, That's just fine with me. They're the government and they will have to wear their record. I expect plenty of mileage to come the opposition's way ...
• All the more reason for us to solidify our links with the so-called independent senators. We can't really hold this Prime Minister to account in the upper ch...
• Interesting, but I thought you were convinced that Graves was a Liberal apologist and that his numbers were therefore notoriously unreliable. Wasn't that you...
• Come on Zachary. You're giving me far too much credit. My remarks have precisely zero influence on the party leadership. Notice how I happen not to be in Ott...
• Zachary, I don't call them. They already have their hands full. If they want my input, they know where to find me!
• Zachary, You know how inherently modest I am. I wouldn't dream of disturbing them.
• Bernie, If that's the plan, why do we bother to care? I've never supported that concept and I'm not about to start now. To form government, you have to ea...
• Bernie, Thanks for the compliment. If that's the case, then I'm 2 for 2: the Conservatives didn't give a shit what I had to say when I was still a member ...
• Zachary, Why does this suddenly remind me of the Churchillian effect. You know how that one goes: first, you win the greatest war ever seen by humankind a...
• Bernie, Please don't give this Prime Minister any ideas. Next thing you know we'll see the PM demonstrating his aquatic abilities (without a JetSki) at Harr...
• Fadden: The Other Shoe Drops. I don't know about you but I find it incredibly troubling to discover that audio of CSIS Director Richard Fadden's speech on n...
• Bernie, I can't stand vague collective assumptions. To my mind, this is precisely what we have here. We've seen it in wartime: loyal Germans, Austro-Hungari...
• Fellow Liberals, Please set me straight -- I thought the purpose of our donations was to build up as quickly as possible a political war chest with which to...
• Dear Readers: THIS WILL NEVER, EVER, HAPPEN AGAIN. Words fail me. I'm completely dumbfounded, floored by this news: HEADLINE OF THE DAY: CHAREST TO STAY ON ...
• Zachary, Please get it right. I did not say there was no media bias against this Conservative government. Of course there is in SOME quarters...but there is...
• Zachary, Please don't puff up too much. Remember, Harper was at 36% in the 2006 election...
• Zachary, Are you telling me that the tooth fairy provided that audio of Fadden's speech to CTV??? Someone in that precious government has a bigger agenda in...
• Zachary, Surely you don't expect me to judge all the "he said-she said". That's for a qualified person heading an inquiry to do. You know where I stand on t...
• Zachary, There's a gaping hole in your theory -- your so-called "coalition members" are not exactly enamoured of CTV, to say the very least. Why would "they...
• Zachary, Even I'm not suggesting that a parliamentary committee is an impartial examination regardless of which party is in power. Right now, we have TPS ...
• Zachary, Yes, Michael has nuanced his previous positions. But then again, so has this Prime Minister. I might add that I supported both men when they initia...
• Zachary, That's why they call it MINORITY government. In theory, a government can be defeated in the House on the very first day that the session resumes. D...
• Zachary, I'm not saying all allegations are credible. But I'm also not saying that all allegations made are not credible. They all need to come before an in...
• LOL.
• Hey Zachary, I guess you aren't planning to make my day with a few judicious comments following word having come down from the mountain that Charest is "sta...
• Zachary, Well, we part company here as I believe that each allegation has to be examined on the merits by an inquiry. Those that happen not to be founded in...
• Yours truly is convinced that this revelation made on Mount CBC is the beginning of the end for the Charest government. This man is almost universally dislik...
• Zachary, In three years...a long, excruciating wait for many of us.
• Bernie, I wonder if this Prime Minister and this Minister will be the ones to finally do something to scrap the Indian Act. I think the Minister has done an...
• Zachary, This isn't the only government to muck itself up and human nature being what it is, it won't be the last to go down that same road...somehow, no ma...
• Zachary, Always expect the unexpected in politics. A competent prime minister always covers all the bases, ahead of time. This PM is no exception. But human...
• Zachary, I know the players more on the "old" team than on the "new" one!!! but Tina Keeper comes immediately to mind. Plus, we could run chiefs from the ...
• Zachary, Yes, many of us find our situation worth discussing with the COS...
• Bernie, FULL DISCLOSURE: when I was part of the other team, I was prepared to back a Chuck Strahl leadership bid. I made preliminary contact with his offi...
• Dear Prime Minister, You know I don't agree with you -- but how's the appeal preparation going? Remember, the clock is ticking!
• Zachary, It's generally been my experience that when inquiring minds want to know, they usually tend to do whatever it takes to find out!
• Zachary, Yes we are agreed but this is pure politics Zachary. You remember that. Just think back to the "good" old days when John (Williamson?) was chair ...
• Zachary, Again, we've covered this ground before -- a multitude of times and we agreed. But you did say recently that substantive policy would not be enou...
• Zachary, Of course I'm always up for it but it's my policy to always get paid in advance for research work, even when the contract potentially comes from ...
• Zachary, It wasn't you? My apologies. I must be mixing you up with someone else. I have so many eager correspondents -- for which I'm eternally grateful. ...
• Zachary, And here I thought I would finally make it back to Ottawa with you as my generous benefactor. Another, in a long series of illusions destroyed...
• Zachary, Hardly a "glowing endorsement" for this Prime Minister: if you go to the tables, you discover that 31% approve of Harper's performance while the ...
• Zachary, Point One: That comment is not one I would have used. As far as I'm concerned, it's over the top. Point Two: Human beings sometimes make serious m...
• Zachary, Let's just say that this group has its work cut out for it if it expects to be taken seriously. Right now, from my perspective, they still have ple...
• Zachary, You see what government prepares people for...just take this Prime Minister -- his security detail has a backup high-security SUV in tow should it ...
• Zachary, One more piece of trivia. In May 2007, our MP invited us up to the Hill for a party event. As a friend and I turned right off Wellington and were a...
• Zachary, I may have been classless in the past where this Prime Minister is concerned but I don't do fingers!
• Zachary, All I can say is two wrongs don't make a right. Canadians are looking for something better than that. If both parties choose to continue to go do...
• Zachary, I liked Michael's message yesterday. That's the way I do politics (most of the time). But I still think he should do the right thing and apologiz...
• Zachary, Thanks. Well, either it's rogue -- or Conservatives had better start worrying. Forgive me if I don't embrace the second option too quickly...but ...
• My apologies Heasmit. Quite obviously, I was a bit too quick off the mark with my response. Please don't be a stranger. Another perspective on events is alwa...
• Zachary, I'll bet you dollars to donuts that this Prime Minister is the only policy wonk in Ottawa who could have handled those curve balls. For the recor...
• Zachary, Someone is quite deliberately feeding this to Travers and that person hopes to sustain it over a long news cycle. Gee whiz -- who could be doing ...
• Zachary, "No Cadillac of helicopters. That's it, Chrétien."
• Zachary, To seriously undermine the leader -- or worse yet, to attempt to do what yours truly did as a Conservative in 2005 would send a wide ranging mess...
• Zachary, Travers may be nominally Liberal but I would be surprised if he has the best interests of the party at heart. Some other "professional" Liberals ...
• Zachary, Remember Zachary, CASH IS KING!
• Zachary, My gut tells me that the JSF announcement expected today will be a net minus for this government. The average Canadian has never been that keen o...
• Zachary, It has been my experience that when a Conservative sets out to prove a point, he or she tends to make a good job of it. I rest my case.
• Zachary, Yeah but we both know that moving immediately to select the JSF clearly spells trouble for this government. The other U.S. company is already mad...
• Zachary, Now that's what I'd call an interesting turn of events.
• Consertative Supporter, Michael was cementing Canadian-Chinese relations. Going over there was a master stroke in the name of institutional modernization. W...
• Come on Consertative Supporter. We need foreign investment in this country. We also need for Canadians to be able to invest abroad with as little state inter...
• Consertative Supporter, Then I guess we agree to disagree. Now, to change subjects, what do you think about the pending Uranium One deal (UUU-T)?
• Michael's Way IS My Way. Yours truly is calling for Liberal unity. We have much work to do and Michael is the person who can accomplish it. Reading the diff...
• Consertative Supporter, I've held it in the past and hold it now. In fact, I'm buying more. I like the optics of the deal. I think it reasonable to suggest ...
• Here's hoping terrorists don't resort to the deadliest weapon known to humankind, namely blowing bubbles at protests...seesh.
• Zachary, Mere smoke and mirrors Zachary. You know that. Let watch the polls together. One of us is bound to have some pleasure watching the other in fits! A...
• Sorry Zachary. CTV reported that she was later arrested on a matter not related to the bubbles. Yours is a very vivid imagination, Zachary. Get real. I'd lik...
• Perhaps. But you know we both have groundwork to lay in preparation. Ours is a constant struggle toward eventual electoral success. We share a common labour ...
• Zachary, No person who hopes to maintain a shred of credibility for their cause would likely follow such a course of action.
• Zachary, Crops grow at varying rates, it seems! As for so-called dissident Liberals, they had better watch out. A flung boomerang always returns to the sou...
• Zachary, We will see what can be proved in front of the courts.
• Zachary, With unity, victory is possible. Without... Just look to my own experience as a Conservative. We took our shot in 2005 and to suggest the blowback...
• Zachary, One cannot adjudicate on criminal charges before an inquiry, as we both know. That has to go before the courts. But it's ironic that this entire ma...
• Zachary, Yes, but at some point people have to come into line either voluntarily or otherwise. The leader has no choice but to play hardball if he is to mai...
• Zachary, What is economically responsible is often politically irresponsible, as our first economist knows all too well and can readily confirm!!!
• Yes, generally speaking, the terms of reference of an inquiry (not to mention a parliamentary committee) usually exclude contamination otherwise everyone wou...
• Zachary, You use the term "fix". I prefer "reprioritize"!
• Zachary, Strongly in agreement for sure. We both would argue that these two provinces are the battleground that will ultimately decide the war. All parties ...
• Zachary, I have to be careful here because I have no particular expertise in procedural issues but yes, I think you are on the right track.
• Zachary, I too shall call it a night. Let me end with this: think of it as positive reinforcement for temporarily "wayward" Liberals (wink!) Nighty, night.
• Zachary, Oh boy. Criminal defense is certainly not my area but I would counter with the following: crown prosecutors are not idiots. They know they have to ...
• Zachary, You've certainly been busy, I'll give you that! To begin, another area where I have no expertise regarding the provisions of the Lobbyist Act, the ...
• Zachary, You know as a lawyer, all I can say in that the presumption of innocence applies. We will see how Michael deals with this in a political context bu...
• Zachary, Mr. Boudria is a registered lobbyist and as such is entitled to lobby. Mr. Jaffer is not registered as far as I know and thus is not entitled to ...
• Zachary, Are you sure you weren't a copy editor in a previous incarnation!? You sure seem to have it down pat...and no, I never said there was no bad opti...
• Oh and Zachary, do you think I should call the PMO to get the exact date when Stephen Harper's complete contributor list is going to be released for each of ...
• Zachary, Let me put it this way, the course chosen was perhaps not the best one given the possible options. "" Mr. Boudria is a registered lobbyist and...
• Zachary, If you happen to frequent Warren Kinsella's site, you will already know that I am very much PRO lifejackets -- especially in politics! See you.
• Zachary, I do when it's to my advantage! That's what I call real charity work.
• Zachary, At least we have one moral certainty coming out of this: we can count on Conservatives to be on the losing side of the polling on this issue!!!!!...
• Zachary, This government and this Minister and her officials should be commended for the way they handled this crisis. I'm not often proud of this governm...
• Zachary, Our poor Prime Minister. It must be exceedingly uncomfortable crouched up against that polling glass ceiling. He's been trying since 2006 but he ...
• Zachary, Now for a backhanded compliment! Even THIS government occasionally gets something right...
• Come on Zachary. Glass ceilings do cut both ways and neither is favourable for either of us or our respective parties. At least I can admit that. But we stil...
• ROFL. But Zachary, there is no coalition. Michael said so. Remember?
• Zachary, Fair enough. But I was in the room in Quebec City when he explicitly ruled it out pre-election. I call that progress!
• Zachary, Now you see why we are both political geniuses...having been against the idea of a coalition, formal or otherwise from the very start!
• Zachary, And I said our crown prosecutors were not idiots. Yes, I did in fact say that...
• Consertative Supporter, Why bother. We all know scrapping the mandatory nature of the Long Form is the Prime Minister's doing. Tony is merely the front pe...
• Zachary, You won't convert me on this one. I favour the mandatory Long Form for accurate statistical purposes.
• Zachary, I'm surprised you are giving up so easily. Usually this Prime Minister likes nothing better than to get the opposing parties by the short and cur...
• Zachary, I guess that depends on who gets to wear the role of the Liberal-Democrats. I don't think the NDP will be as keen, in some circles, going forward...
• Zachary, Thanks very much. I don't know Zachary -- but you know me and my gut, alias tea leaves!!!! -Liberals get to watch: Agreed, the Clegg body lang...
• Zachary, See even Chrétien has seen the light. Kinsella must also be reconsidering -- or at least I hope he is.
• Consertative Supporter, I guess mellowing is out of the question!?
• Zachary, I'll bet you can't pull this one off and totally divorce yourself from the polling to react to this little gem. Plainly stated Zachary, this P...
• Zachary, Now if it really goes in the dumper, Clegg can pull out his secret weapon (but preferably not in public, in case envy should suddenly strike) -- ...
• Consertative Supporter, Well, if memory serves Trudeau was the first to formalize it with a ministry but I think Pearson is the founding father, so to spe...
• Consertative Supporter, That question is above my pay grade. Haven't the foggiest but I will say that Meighen and Bennett kept granddad gainfully employed...
• Zachary, Interesting analysis.
• Zachary, Perhaps, but yours truly is into decomplication -- that's why my top priority is getting Quebec's signature on the constitution. As Monte Hall wo...
• Zachary, Thanks. You of all people know what a strange hybrid I am: strong decentralist (not just for Quebec but all the other provinces and territories) ...
• Big yawn Zachary...this Prime Minister can't get an elected Senate past seven of ten provinces. In other words, Canadians may wish that the moon was made of ...
• Zachary, Thank you, impartial oracle of economic prognostication! So quite naturally, you no doubt expect a big bump up for Conservatives in upcoming polls ...
• Zachary, You deal, you get. Otherwise, to use one of your expressions: "Not so much."
• Zachary, You might call it testy -- I prefer dubious. In any event Zachary, I will agree with your argument right after this Prime Minister has proved it by...
• Zachary, Translation: absolutely no progress ahead on provincial election of senators. You know it and I know it...
• Zachary, You sure don't know me very well after all this time. If this Prime Minister beats us fair and square, I will not only admit that I was wrong in th...
• Zachary, There are no shortage of idiots in Canada. They can be found in every party. And strangely enough, they can also be found in considerable numbers o...
• Playing Out The Clock, Conservative Style. Don't you love Canadian politics? All that coasting. All that dilly dallying on when to act. All that looking at ...
• Zachary, Ours is truly a thankless task. But what can you do. At least a government hangs in the balance. I'm not sporting enough to genuinely wish you GOOD...
• Zachary, Come on Zachary. Finance was projecting achieving balance in four or five years. Perhaps three is reasonable with increased revenue but that's ab...
• Zachary, Mr. Justice Pierre Blais, if I'm not mistaken. How the judiciary is retiscent to intrude on the decision making powers of the executive.
• Zachary, When I was a Conservative and now as a Liberal, I worked with what I had...
• Zachary, You are nothing if not always thoughtful!
• Zachary, Maybe so but you know my positions differ from that of this government on a host of issues. That was even true then. Remember Zachary, I voted agai...
• Impotent Folly, Act 1000. There's a really good reason why resorting to economic sanctions is a waste of time. It has something to do with the fact that the...
• Zachary, Better late than never! 1) Yup; 2) As a cities base yes, but Liberal support can grow there is an effective campaign; 3) Yes but "cross over" re...
• Zachary, I'm especially interested in getting your take on this. After all, we don't get to discuss fundamental geo-political issues too often, do we.
• Harper: From Long Form Census To NHL Draft??? You know, you have to hand it to this Prime Minister. There's a real good reason why the PM should hang it up ...
• And You Thought Being Prime Minister Wasn't A Fun Job. The mind boggles as one attempts to make sense of the civil war raging in the RCMP. Who knows wheth...
• Zachary, Enlightening response. Just a few remarks: in not too diplomatic language: -- Bibi is fucked. This isn't the good old days when Israel could teac...
• Zachary, Agreed unless we go from low boil to raging boil over many weeks. In that case, Elliott may suddenly find himself joining Hayward...
• Zachary, So we can go the National Archives together in thirty years. I've already done research there when I was at Carleton. It will be an enlighening v...
• Zachary, My recollection is that the bombs deliberately targeted a tent out in the desert and ended up killing Khadafy's adopted daughter. I'm almost 100%...
• Zachary, When Elliott came in it was to repair a dysfunctional RCMP. And what do we see today -- wait for it -- a dysfunctional RCMP. I'm not prepared to bl...
• Zachary, This Prime Minister is a majority government believer. He knows the odds only turn seriously in his favour if he can hang on until 2012 when the ne...
• Zachary, The truth does not favour this Prime Minister -- but it doesn't work against him either. The whole thing comes out as a wash for the PM. Sure, he...
• Its Over 4 Harper!, With both parties hugging the basement, I agree with you that it's now or never for Michael. He really needs to get all his ducks in a...
• Heasmit, Please call me Ron. (I'm also known as that SOB but that is somewhat restricted to a few quarters in the PMO, but I digress!!!) This being a d...
• Zachary, The article talks about balance in 2015 rather than 2016. Now if we were talking 2011, that would be an instant bonanza favouring Conservatives B...
• Zachary, Like Wow! What a trailblazer! Perhaps he'll also go the whole hog and actually proffer a few suggestions. On par with the creation of the univers...
• Zachary, In any event, let's get down to brass tacks. We'll have our program, you'll have yours. All these side issues won't amount to diddly during the c...
• Zachary, How can I be more categorical: I won't return even if personally approached by the Lord, the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Forget it. It ain't happening...
• Zachary, Warren is a party man through and through. When the chips are down and even when they're not, he can always be counted on during a campaign. P...
• Zachary, You sure seem fixated on Michael's tour. It still has a month to go as the leader connects with Canadians across this fine country of ours. Good on...
• Zachary, FULL DISCLOSURE: You're a kind soul Zachary not mentioning my previous incident. For readers not in the know, I got severely burned on this file a ...
• Zachary, I'm all for addressing the serious preoccupations of rural Canada. We owe everything to farmers -- without them, quite simply, the rest of us are d...
• Going Lower Than Anyone Has Gone Before... Once again, a new high in low in Canadian politics. Out comes the tag line "he or she looks like" [fill in the bl...
• Zachary, Boy, the PMO is really doing its part -- 20 new staffers and one million over last year's budget. Just tell the unemployed take out a Conservativ...
• A Rational View, I know at least one of those new staffers. Maybe the PMO will spring for lunch next time he's in town -- but somehow I doubt it.
• Dear Prime Minister, Some of us don't need money as an incentive!
• Heasmit, In politics what one gives is generally what one gets. Why are you surprised? Just ask Dion and Ignatieff how the party opposite has not personal...
• We are as one on this Heather. Some strategists in both parties believe this approach does more good than harm in firming up numbers. I happen to think the o...
• We too are as one on this Zachary.
• Zachary, I'm rather surprised that a poster of your experience would come out and make such a baseless charge. Quite obviously, you won't be able to prove i...
• Tara_Prentice, Even Tom Flanagan said on P & P that Stock didn't exactly hit this one right out of the park. There is no doubt that there are unreported cr...
• Proud Canadian, I want this Prime Minister to stay right where he is. The PM is a known quantity and that works for us. This gentleman has an uncanny abil...
• Zachary, You know what they say about lies, damned lies and statistics... I think the criminologists should weigh in on this one. Otherwise, it remains...
• Hi Jack, Nice to see that you are still at it. Nothing quite like a guy who does a job well.
• Zachary, I don't condone Namesake's reply strategy but the same can be said of things like this: lying Liberals, how typical of a Liberal, Liberals are en...
• Zachary, Continuing in the same vein, quite frankly, I would suspect that that would apply to all our federal political parties. Wishful thinking is a lar...
• Zachary, This Prime Minister knows that a COS has to perform exceptionally to win. Thus far, his latest one has not -- neither has ours. Draw your own con...
• Zachary, I CHOOSE to use the high road. I did not say THEY did. And if you need it, here's a life lesson: I happen to know better than to post over at...
• Zachary, All of that is M-E-A-N-I-N-G-L-E-S-S unless we are in an actual campaign. Remember Zachary, it took Chrétien three years to reach the summit -- b...
• Zachary, Here you go. You will need a strong stomach: http://www.freedominion.com.pa
• Zachary, Fair enough, but that can be said of any of the leaders.
• But Zachary, Trudeau, Mulroney and Chrétien have at least two majorities each. This Prime Minister? Not so much!
• Zachary, Not necessarily post but I thought you might be curious as to what the hard right is up to these days. I have no idea if someone is posting over ...
• Zachary, Ideas followed by policy. That's what makes majority governments. Never say never -- no matter how remote the possibility may appear at this junc...
• Zachary, This land mine will be self-inflicted. Wait and watch. Coming to a political theatre near you. Soon.
• Canadian Patriot, Now let's see if I've got this straight: the Canadian economy has come out of the recession faster than any other industrialized democra...
• Canada First, People thought I was nuts when I argued that this Prime Minister is the best tactical friend a Liberal ever had. Sooner, or later, he can a...
• British Petro, Why the attitude? After all, Canadian Patriot is only capping the Conservative well!!!
• You amuse me sometimes Zachary. For you to stubbornly refuse to realize that I've found another major chink in this Prime Minister's armour (which you find p...
• Architect1, With all due respect, I came from that party. If this Prime Minister goes down, he will not act against type -- put another way: he is an incred...
• QUESTION OF THE DAY! I don't know about you but I'm anxiously waiting to see whether James finally gets what he deserves. Many of us think he's earned it....
• Looks like I'm in for an interesting day. Suddenly under intense malware bombardment. I guess the juveniles (not quite men and it shows) have taken over ...
• A Public Service Message. Mastering a new cabinet portfolio is never easy. You really need to focus exclusively -- like a laser beam. Just ask John Baird...
• Zachary, That's what makes Liberals such fun. We are eternally optimistic. One poll does not a trend make -- as you rightly said but the best is yet to co...
• I wonder if Warren Kinsella joins me in the following refrain? I will let Sally Field speak for yours truly: ""You like me; you really like me" Quite ...
• S-M-I-L-E! Things are moving as expected - just swimmingly. It's going to be a great weekend. Sometimes, events really do fall into place according to plan...
• Long time no see Donald Bruce. I guess you will be pinch hitting for Zachary while he's away! May the joust continue!
• Donald Bruce, This Prime Minister can handle it. He's a big boy. The PM takes 'em as well as he throws 'em. The long, winding road of rough and tough contin...
• Hey Hollinm, As the most perceptive (not to mention frank) of Conservatives on this board, how about your assessment of cinema vérité...can't you just feel ...
• Save the Census, This Prime Minister does not have much in common with Mulroney but he does share this: both men became very polarizing figures -- loved in ...
• Donald Bruce, Absolutely, it's always a wonder to behold -- especially in committee where he seemed to be getting along exceptionally well with Madam Chair....
• Donald Bruce, Parliament Hill: the only place in Ottawa where angels fear to tread. But at least birthday parties are a blast. There are always a multitude ...
• Yes Donald Bruce, Liberals and other parties are equally as guilty as Conservatives. Yes, on reflection, I should have included Manning, Day and even this Pr...
• Again Donald, Canadians don't seem to like when politics goes down that road but EVERYONE from ALL THE PARTIES has chosen to deliberately go there. It's rat...
• Come on Donald. It's he said-she said and you know it. Canadians do not trust the slant of either of us. We claim to be in the right -- and so do you. Either...
• Donald, Spectacle eventually brings results. Just review the performance of the previous incarnation. It was very effective. No one knows that more acutely ...
• You bet. Guess he won't be biting after all!
• Donald, Nice try -- on my part though.
• Does This Prime Minister Do Requests??? One of things I most admire about this Prime Minister is his ability to play pretty decent piano. He seems to be at ...
• The Long Contemplative Walk To The Polls... Hi, my name is John and Jane voter. It's starting to seriously look like we'll be headed to the polls this fall....
• Donald Bruce, Remember in 2005 when yours truly found the leader wanting. And look what happened one short year later!
• Donald Bruce, Thank you. Running behind in my work but you'll be hearing from me again tonight as I go through the remaining seven posts.
• Donald Bruce, Eliott has made noteworthy reforms. But the issue is no longer reforming a badly broken force. It has become a fight over the Commissioner him...
• Hi Pot! What's that? Calling the kettle black, again! Interesting -- but ineffective strategic choice.
• Donald, Like yours truly, to pat oneself on the back (how déclassé but what the hell!), Warren is rather good at what he does. I expect to see him out there...
• Donald Bruce, Internet extermination would normally work both ways. Trouble is, neither side is ever completely successful...
• Donald Bruce, [What did you expect, that i would do anything less than you would and I have read the "book"] Does it really work as well as Sominex!!!!!!!!...
• Donald Bruce, I'm going to let this one pass because of my overall position on the government's H1N1 response. I consider it a success that should be commen...
• Now That's What I Would Call I-R-O-N-Y! Conservatives on this board have practically puked on themselves ridiculing Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff's cro...
• Donald Bruce, You guys are sure mightily interested in one gentleman's opinion. Makes me think that some panic has set in in Conservative ranks. Rather in...
• Donald Bruce, Everyone in the party knows where Michael stands. His views reflect that of caucus and the party. If that changes, we'll all hear about it f...
• Donald Bruce, That must be why they don't pay me the big bucks.
• Donald Bruce, Jean-Marc Fournier will be heading back into cabinet!
• Donald Bruce, We live in a wonderful, free country -- perhaps the best in the world! It's nice to know that yours truly, yourself, along with my many n...
• Donald Bruce, Agreed -- in a non-partisan fashion.
• Donald Bruce, Let me put it this way -- I know which approach to political discourse is the right one for me.
• Don't Worry, I FEEL Your Pain! To Whom It May Concern, The future looks bleak, I know. But hey, you're really wasting your time sending me those Seven ...
• Taco, Far be it for me to criticize the regulars but I will say that no act of intimidation will prevent me from expressing my views. All of us seem to ha...
• Donald Bruce, I'll go out on a limb here and say it's safe to suggest that we can mark you down as "Undecided" about supporting Ignatieff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
• Michael, Go baby, go!
• Taco, I shouldn't toot my own horn but remember Taco, I've been talking about a Harper glass ceiling since the last election. Nice indeed to finally be pr...
• Fellow Liberals, Has the COS finally come around to our way of thinking? I don't know about you but something tells me that he probably has...
• Taco, We both know that Donald is just getting warmed up...he'll be taking us on again shortly. (We can take that one to the bank!)
• Donald Bruce, If you haven't figured it out -- yet -- somehow I doubt this Prime Minister has either. Please permit me to continue to savour that irref...
• Taco, Sorry, was out of the office.
• Well Said, Jim Travers! I'm with Travers. I hope the rest of you are as well. The following part of his piece is a brilliant gem in an otherwise exceedingly...
• September 20, 2010. September 20th has been a special day in my heart for quite a number of years. This year it will take on an even more meaningful quality...
• Donald Bruce, Yeah, right! That's why this Prime Minister prorogued -- not once but twice!!! He was only looking after the best interests of Canadians. No ...
• Donald Bruce, I too would like to see representatives from all parties make amends, as needed. That would be the decent thing to do -- so would allowing her...
• Donald Bruce, With respect, you sure as hell are out on one shaky limb. But hey, that's your choice. I'd say you share that with the PM -- not budging is no...
• If we're getting formal, yes, Mr. Smith, prorogation is like a cheap suit -- whether worn by Liberals or Conservatives. Sure, Liberals did it first. Sure, ...
• Donald Bruce, People have time for this Finance Minister. We can quibble about the wisdom of his approach while at Queen's Park (c'est discutable, as we say...
• I Heart Canada, I'd say it's pretty much game, set and match for YOU. Congratulations! I wouldn't want to be Flanagan when "the call" comes sizzling in. It...
• We'll soon see!
• Donald Bruce, All for one -- and one for all. You forgot the CPC MP whose name escapes me at the moment. Don't feel like googling it. Care to refresh my mem...
• Donald Bruce, It was pin the shaft on the donkey time. Ottawa did it with glee to the provinces and territories. They in turn were more than happy to rear e...
• I suppose I have to google it now...
• Donald Bruce, From The Star: OTTAWA—A Conservative MP is using a parliamentary website, telephone number and email account to promote a weekend spaghetti d...
• Donald Bruce, You're slipping. You walked right into this one. Ha, ha. Edmonton Journal: (Written by Susan Riley, Ottawa Citizen) According to media repor...
• Donald Bruce, In that context, it's far from match unless this Prime Minister gets his majority. We both know that. Why pretend otherwise?
• Donald Bruce, I thought you were the guy who said we had to respect how the people voted. Doesn't seem so, just about now...
• Donald Bruce, Let me get this straight. Max is advising this Prime Minister on census policy? Now, if that just doesn't take the cake!
• Donald Bruce, You know what a big heart I've got so accordingly, I will give the paper the benefit of the doubt. I'm looking forward to Brown (or any other ...
• Donald Bruce, That's certainly one man's opinion.
• BC Bob, Taco can get his apology through the voters by doing all he or she can to beat the shit out of this gang in the next election -- hopefully, sooner r...
• Donald Bruce, Of course Harper isn't a failure. HE is a twice indirectly-elected prime minister. But it can't be game, set and MATCH until he gets a MAJORIT...
• Donald Bruce, Come again? You've just lost me.
• Donald Bruce, But the real question is, how many still share your view? Think descending!
• Donald, I find it somewhat amusing to see you vainly trying to paint this government as lily-white when that is quite obviously, not the case. Past Liberal...
• Donald, Are you -- and I actually hope you're not -- seriously suggesting that this Prime Minister can get any further mileage from Sponsorship? That is ol...
• BC Bob, I was way, way, way out in front on this issue when even my own party did not get it (much less my former party!) and that's why I'm so confident th...
• Stimulus Withdrawal: Coming To An Economy Not Yet Out Of The Woods. This Prime Minister is hell bent on bringing an end to economic stimulus. OK, but perhap...
• Donald Bruce, Way, way, way, ahead means precisely that. It means Liberals were at best lukewarm while Conservatives were silent -- which comes to the sam...
• BC Bob, Too bad this Prime Minister doesn't have as sharp a political antenna as Gentleman Jim...damned shame!
• Mr. Smith, Nice dodge. Now how about addressing the point. You know perfectly well that Jim told them to flush it when the mentally challenged came to him...
• Come on Donald. Who happens to be arguing that you are not six percent ahead -- at least in some polls. Not me. Irrelevant point.
• Donald, Thanks for the clarification. Bart gets on my nerves... As for your approach to politics, glad to see that we do likewise.
• This is not meant for anyone on this board but is an open message to the cowards who delight in sending me viruses, trojans and other assorted goodies on a r...
• Donald Bruce, Interesting that the government has come to that conclusion. Not the way I would play it!
• Donald Bruce, You could make the foreign service with that last paragraph! We will need someone with an expertise in constitutional law to weigh in her...
• Donald Bruce, You know I speak only for myself. I do not work for the OLO, an MP, a Senator, or the party. Just so we're clear here.
• Mr. Smith, Mr. Wright needs to get something straight -- I'm not for coasting all the way to 2011. That means only one thing: increasing the odds to 50-50...
• Donald Bruce, Same to you. Meanwhile, you can count on me to do my utmost to help this Prime Minister retire. A return to Calgary would do him a world of ...
• Maple Leaf fan, OUR VOTE OF THANKS DOES NOT COME WITH CASH...
• Donald Bruce, Stop passing the buck. This is Blackburn's mess to clean up regardless of how longstanding the alleged obstruction has been taking place. Yo...
• Mr. Smith, Your statement does not cut ice with me -- nor will it with any Canadian who happens not to be a rabid partisan...
• Wally P, Hopefully O'Connor will be a little more forthright.
• Don't you get it Mr. Smith? IF this needs cleaning up, then for God's sake get to it! This government claims to be so good at doing what's right -- so hop to...
• And another thing: if things are as bad as reported, what's Walt waiting for to take the bull by the horns. Perhaps the CDS needs to take a few lessons from ...
• Donald, It usually takes a lot more heat than this to get to you. You're not going soft, are you? Remember what Truman said about the kitchen...
• Donald, Like time I checked PCO was considered the prime minister's department...and strange as it may seem, Stock was mandated to hold sway over at Treas...
• Donald, In this case, the road to hell was paved by ALL the parties. Too bad that but the atmosphere has been so poisoned, most people aren't even able (o...
• Donald, I find Questions One thru Four to be fair points. Question Five is a tad too cynical for me. I doubt a military man would behave in this fashion. ...
• Again, your point is logical -- up until it became public knowledge. That changes the dynamic quite a bit. Surely the government can move forward on this now...
• That's an interesting point but it has nothing whatsoever to do with this crisis. Again, is the government only interested in the "Blame-Game" and tarring...
• How true...
• We are on the same wavelength! We won't even tackle "small" men driving excessively large SUVs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• See you. Supper is beckoning...somewhere.
• Donald, Don't get me wrong. I'm no angel. Hardly, I look to use every (and I mean every) issue I can find to defeat the government. But there comes a time w...
• The Dream Team? -Libby Davies; -Rob Nicholson; -Dominic Leblanc; -Serge Ménard. If there's a common will, there's a way!
• Oh Look! There's the Prime Minister in Mississauga -- wearing MY glasses!!!! Perhaps it will make him look as sympathetic as I do. You never know.
• Donald, Well, your non-partisan streak didn't last very long, did it. Back to games as usual. OK. So be it...
• For The Prime Minister To Raise This Now... She must be in some trouble at home. Julia Gillard says the Queen should be the last Australian monarch. I sti...
• Donald, This is a losing issue for Conservatives. They can get the Almighty to testify in favour of their position and it won't make a hill of beans of a ...
• Donald, This is an Australian-specific post. Have a nice lunch.
• Donald Bruce, Just too rich -- you guys only added the language questions to the mandatory short form because you are up to your collective asses in a min...
• Donald, The day you really hit a nerve, I'll be sure to let you know. No one has been able to do it since they called me a traitor.
• Sorry Conservatives, he could have been given a special mandate to continue to deal with the registry while on French language training but no, this Prime Mi...
• Donald, Uh huh. Is there a point in bringing up this ancient history now that the deed is done? Must be a really slow day, eh?
• Donald, You're half right. You didn't this time...but I had forgotten about that one. By the way, the only one who punches above my weight class is God...
• Donald, Is this your way of telling us that the government is foresaking any whipped votes on all government business in the future? Wait. Oh yeah, I didn...
• Donald, What? And ruin all the fun! Geez, I'd much rather watch Elliott try to freeskate his way around it when the press catches up to him.
• Donald, Original isn't your strong suit today, is it.
• Agreed.
• Donald, You're losing on points. Just look at the optics. A take-no-prisoners-prime-minister is somehow disturbed by a take-no-nonsense ombudsman. The guy...
• Donald, It's the one that breaks the most glass in the other guy's house that will win the election.
• That's crap. He's a better Canadian than either of us.
• Donald, I'm all for putting it to the test this fall!
• Donald, Every citizen makes a contribution, and a worthy one at that, but nothing equals public service in the interest of the nation. By our respective o...
• Why Canada Needs An Election. Voters are not likely to get seriously riled up unless you give them an incentive to do anything other than park their votes...
• Donald, I know you're busy -- and because I'm such a great guy, I'll correct the typo in your last sentence: "With all the garbage and smears that the ...
• Donald, I'm pleased to see a settlement. However, I'm not sure that this is dead given the manner in which the settlement was reached.
• Donald, In all fairness, I think Canadians should be afforded the opportunity to read the statement before reaching any conclusions as to Malhi's views on t...
• Donald, I like to have a good hot chocolate with whipped cream when listening to CBC. Sweet music to my ears, listening to the Mother Corp...
• Donald, Admit it. Most police officers killed in the line of duty whether working for a federal, provincial, municipal or other force or service are murdere...
• Donald, Nice one.
• Donald, I will find it for you since I've previously posted it on Warren's site some time back.
• Donald, You won't see me crying! I favoured whipping the vote last time both for the Liberal and NDP caucus. Our job is to screw over this government and ...
• Donald, Agreed. In any event, I believe my information was from guncontrol.ca. Can't find it in Warren's archives. In short, it listed each officer/consta...
• Donald, It's a consideration for sure -- but look at all the "anti-Chongs" in the Conservative Party who voted for les québécois sont une nation when they...
• Donald, Thank you. Perhaps tonight. But I happen to be at least as stubborn, if not more so than my fellow Taurus!...
• Then you won't be afraid to run with it as soon as we sink this government!
• No wonder you are such a worthy opponent. Ours could be a conflict to the death, if either of us was stupid enough to let it get that far. We'd both be up...
• Donald, Reminds me of what the Klingon warrior told Kirk: "But Captain, it would have been glorious!"
• Donald, I think I should bring that last point of yours up with Helena!!!!!!
• That was one stupid Fox... For the record, was forced to take care of one very deserving Scorpio in the past but it was hardly a cake-walk. Don't plan on ...
• Donald, Sometimes you need a new ride. Other times, you happen to know "just enough" for it to be prudent that you get back on board...
• Donald, Elliott and the PMO have chosen to dig all the way to China. Who am I not to egg them on!
• Donald, The fun is in the looking! But, not necessarily "finding".
• Donald, My line must have been busy. Pity I don't have call waiting. P.S. Susan Smith should have been there -- to name just one fine female strategist.
• Donald, Other than home-made, I tend to gravitate to Krispy Kreme. No one knows it better than my belt!
• Donald, With any luck, your arteries are in better shape than mine.
• Donald, LOL.
• Now Donald, we have to be careful here. You have to remember that during his interrogation sessions by CSIS, a crying 14 year old Khadr displayed his bruises...
• Donald, No question Conservatives remain in the lead (as in most other polls) but their support is soft. Our job as Liberals is to put the finishing touches...
• Donald, My reaction? The following: which is it, or is it both? Commissioner William Elliott is suggesting that then Superintendent Marty Cheliak had only ...
• Donald, The sovereignty aspect likes some oomph...remember that the alleged incident happened not on U.S. soil, but in a foreign war theatre, namely Afghani...
• Donald, To my mind, this is PR 101. All you need to do is find Waldo! You get Marty Cheliak before the press and he can detail it. Quite obviously, with his...
• Donald, With respect, he isn't in the U.S. He's on Cuban soil where an American military base has existed since roughly 1900. The Cubans aren't exactly thri...
• Donald, Come on. He (Cheliak) works in a top-down administrative structure. Official protocol requires permission from the Commissioner -- who himself would...
• Think of it Donald. A Canadian citizen is not entitled to the same level of rights as a U.S. citizen would have on U.S. soil. Point One. Point two: no U.S. c...
• Let me rephrase, to be more accurate. The Commissioner can't make such an explosive decision to let Cheliak speak without first at least informing his politi...
• Why thank you for the compliment. I try to be a good Liberal!
• Donald, This has nothing to do with you strictly speaking, but it's a lot more fun working systematically to take down a government legally than trying to ...
• Donald, Will keep an eye on our discussion but am engrossed in reading Carl's take over at Threehundredeight.com. My how Éric does outstanding work there. I...
• Donald, Morden strikes me as solid in terms of credibility. I expect plenty of diplomatic language and subtle nuances but I would also expect that the gener...
• Donald, Yes, I've left quite a large quantity of expended hot air over there as is my general habit! See you.
• First, The United Kingdom. Now, Apparently Australia. Implications For Canada? The Herald Sun is reporting that coalition government is the most likely scen...
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Three would-be kingmakers in the new Federal Parliament will soon meet to consider their position as Australia faces da...
• Donald, Of course it's coalition talk. I'm against coalition dealing until we see election results. But if I was the big kahuna, I would start worrying...NO...
• The Independent (U.K.): Australia faces an almost unprecedented period of political uncertainty, after the tightest election in decades failed to produce a ...
• PEI Challenger Blues. Some days, it's hard to pull yourself out of bed and get up and going. If your name is Stephen Harper, today must have been one of tho...
• Donald, Women always know best. All the best to both on you on this special day. And in keeping with the spirit of the day, I will give you advance notice t...
• Looking Down Those Artic Nooks... As a Canadian, I'm proud to see any prime minister giving the North the attention it so richly deserves. Prime Minister St...
• Donald, A lobotomy produces results too -- just not useful or practical ones... Bring on the election. Please.
• Oink, Oink. Frankly, I can't improve on this. Suffice it to say that Conservatives can, on occasion, practice patronage restraint. After all, the PMO was ...
• Dancing Ain't My Thing But... I have to confess that I won't be outdancing Madonna anytime soon -- but after seeing this Prime Minister cutting a rug up N...
• WHAT THE HELL ARE WE WAITING FOR??? Talk about time to get on the stick! When we see arrests taking place again in relation to alleged terrorist offenses, w...
• Donald, Tireless work is our calling card. You can count on us to keep at it. Only the timid are intimidated before change appears on the horizon. Slow and ...
• Jeffrey Simpson Has Nailed It In The Globe and Mail: To wit: "The virtue of lifers is the gaining of wisdom and experience. They learn not only how governm...
• This Piece Is Incredibly Devastating For Julia Gillard. From: The Sydney Morning Herald "After a near-death experience, rebirth is the only way forward fo...
• Sky News Australia: "Wilkie lays down the law to Gillard Updated: 06:06, Sunday August 29, 2010 Julia Gillard's marked the first week of a hung parliament...
• Jack - High Time To Follow The Liberal Lead...And Defeat C-391. September 22nd will be a true test of leadership. That's when the third-reading vote will ta...
• Why Obama Should Be Smiling! I don't know about you but yours truly is thrilled at contemplating the eventual re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama. As...
• Bernie, Rove was suddenly considered a has-been as soon as Bush left office. It would be rather funny if he managed to work himself back into a White Hous...
• Donald, I never doubted it for a moment considering that you did not go joyriding on that ATV... But as you know, we plan on winning the next election outr...
• Jack, Let's Talk Stephen Harper! You know Jack, I take my hat off to you. You're a guy interested in actual compromise on the long-gun registry. Yours is an...
• Hey Donald, Are you burned out? Or has your wife relegated you to the wood-shed??? You really should get back. An election is coming, you know!
• They Sure Must Have Strong Backs In Winnipeg... Must come from doing all that bending over -- whenever a Conservative government happens to take power...c...
• Meet The New King Of Negative! I don't want to prematurely spoil your fun so go on over to the CBC website and check out the negative ratings for the part...
• Zorro, I can't wait to rumble. Now, if only Jack can find his fortitude on the long-gun registry...

Conservatives Lead by Six Points, NDP up (Nanos Poll Completed June 3rd 2010) (2010-06-08)

• Consertative Supporter, ROFL. You sure seem to be retired -- and not just professionally! (No offense intended.)
• Now, now, Hollinm. Michael said we are open to it after the election results have come in, if need be. But he has also made it crystal clear that that dog wo...
• Agreed. We may be a progressive nation but not THAT progressive. Everyone basically likes Jack but that's about as far as it goes with most people, voters...
• NAIT, That's a pretty big if -- and right now, the Bloc is still in the mix. I don't see the numbers anywhere for a coalition of two.
• Zachary, Number three merits a careful examination. That's as far as I'll go for now.
• NAIT, And that is why we are no longer comatose, as regards platform elaboration and fine tuning. That train has finally left the station. Better late, th...
• Bernie, I need to be convinced that the NDP would govern from the center. This isn't Dexter we're talking about. But I take your point and admit I may be ...
• Hollinm, Perhaps the Queen can get lucky and convince this Prime Minister to take up Jean's post. Works for me -- and most other Canadians, I suspect!
• Yeah Hollinm, as soon as I see that, I'll spontaneously need to empty my tool! (In the traditional way, of course...) But once again, I digress. Please forgi...
• Consertative Supporter, Like any allegation, it merits a thorough investigation. All we can do is wait and see what turns up. On another matter -- in t...
• Hollinm, Remember how Stanfield vs. Trudeau turned out. I expect if we are both reasonably close, that could be a possibility again with Jack as kingmaker...
• Hollinm, I have absolutely no expertise relating to this. I'm as confused as you are. I will even go further -- I'm more like lost. Can't wait to see wher...
• How Can I Put This As Accurately As Possible? I feel like UPCHUCKING after today's vote. Enough said. See you!
• Bernie, I'm so disgusted with what happened in the Commons last night that I'm taking a powder for a considerable length of time. (Yes, that's what I said...
• Letting Conservatives Speak... Posted at Threehundredeight.com: Shadow said... Don't let Quebec separate, it would give Harper a comfortable majority !! ...
• Bernie, If you happen to meet Pablo in Montreal -- that'll surely get you a beer!
• Zachary, Surely, you will agree with me that without Quebec, the raison d'être for a Canadian federation basically ceases to exist. Might as well join the...
• Zachary, As I've said before, without Quebec, Canada very quickly ceases to exist, period. The continentalist tendencies will lead to the political abs...
• And another thing. The "French" and the "English" have played off each other -- not to mention deliberately manipulated each other since Macdonald's time. No...
• Zachary, We both KNOW that as soon as this Prime Minister gets his favourable judgment from the SCC on the National Securities Regulator that -- surprise,...
• Dear Dumb Dumbs, It may have escaped you but it's high time that you firmly push the old man into the wall. Cough up now, or face the drastic consequen...
• Who Will Be The Prized Chumps Come Thursday? Care to take a bit of a guess? For my part, I think I can hazard a prediction but I prefer to watch the pa...
• Zachary, Well, let me put you down respectfully as an optimist. Ontario would never go for that -- going from the big cheese to -- of secondary economic i...
• Zachary, You should have been an archeologist what with your propensity for digging up ancient ruins (especially when effectively cornered)...
• Zachary, I think you have that backwards -- the leader is not ready to go yet. Rae strikes me as more anxious believing that the coalition is the magic re...
• No Question About It -- I'm With Jack. It's called Negotation 101 and it's elementary. All three parties are to blame on this for having been hoodwinked b...
• Fellow Liberals, Just ask yourselves, would Jerry Yanover really have gone for this? We will never really know -- but somehow I doubt it.
• Yup, we got royally rolled. This is nothing but a high falutin delaying tactic masterminded by this Prime Minister. I sometimes wonder how such a high degree...
• Jack, You should ask for and accept Libby Davies resignation as House Leader. At present, her position cannot be described as anything else other than unt...
• Zachary, There is absolutely no bloody excuse for being outclassed like this...FCS, even the New Democrats can see right through this Prime Minister's str...
• Zachary, As far as I'm concerned, multiple strategic heads should roll instantly in the OLO. Strategists may in fact be a dime a dozen but those in pla...
• Zachary, I'll go even one step further -- I rather see Herle and Reid back in place than the gang we've got in there right now. At least those two guys ha...
• Zachary, It is merely the supremacy of this government because the Liberals and Bloc were quite simply outnegotiated.
• Zachary, I can live with training police officers but not those complete incompetents in the Afghan Army...how many billions was it that the Americans hav...
• Zachary, As a Conservative it's perfectly normal that you would have low expections for Liberals. As a Liberal, I expect the moon. That is the OLO's job a...
• Zachary, This issue comes up as bad optics for the opposition parties no matter how you slice it. We should give this one a wide berth.
• Zachary, Neither of us are geniuses (unless you are keeping something from me!) and yet we both can see how this will play out. It follows the traditional...
• Consertative Supporter, You make the mistake of thinking we don't actually send, well, politicians there!!! Now, you've seen the light. Cheap political...
• Something Tells Me Jim Travers Has Something Against This Government. Personally, I can't think why. After all, WE elected these MPs to the House -- twice a...
• The Lesson We Liberals Find So Hard To Learn. In the words of the Ethics and Access to Information Committee Chair, as reported by The Gazette: "Liberal MP...
• Sorry Nik, But I'm Stuck With Ekos! Now let me see if I've got this right...Ekos puts the Conservatives at a severely tarnished 30.5%. Now, you're talking! ...
• Involuntary Humility. Zachary, You know I had a few ideas for Michaëlle Jean as second act. Unfortunately, this Prime Minister seems to have been faster at...
• My, No Wonder All Those Social Conservatives Are Smiling! Just my luck -- you know me. Got a hankering to let my fingers do the walking to see if I could ...
• Zachary, If a multi-directional "hint" was your intention, you've succeeded -- even beyond your wildest dreams!!!
• Zachary, Do I think that the security estimates for Huntsville and Toronto are the final word on costs of that nature? Absolutely not. Do I expect further b...
• But Zachary, I wasn't a Liberal back then, was I... Try to look to the present and the future. That's how we establish political credibility. Remember, defl...
• Again, Zachary, yours is a defensive spin. Canadians don't care whether Tony won with thirty something or close to eleven thousand votes. That sir, is comple...
• Zachary, Ha! Ha! Right back at you from the same Martin piece: [...] "It's still an unprecedented hosting tab for any country to pick up, particular...
• Zachary, You know very well that this Prime Minister has an agreement with the other leaders whereby each country will make its own decision whether to fund...
• Afghanistan: Get The Hell Out Of There ASAP! I'm tired of seeing brave Canadians coming home in coffins -- yeah, yeah, the combat role is about to end. That...
• Zachary, Yours is a valid point. Trouble is, it's somewhat extraneous to mine -- which also happens to be a valid point. Surely, you can see that. If not, ...
• Zachary, Thank you, I think. We haven't agreed like this for quite some time. Perhaps, one -- or both of us are slipping.
• PMO Statement On Anarchist Damage In Toronto. Hopefully, this Prime Minister speaks for the vast majority of Canadians. The PM's words certainly speak for ...
• Zachary, Right. You may not want to pay for Canadian abortions but that is not our call as citizens, is it. Doesn't bother yours truly to pay for them in Ca...
• Zachary, Perhaps you will also agree with this: the day I change my view is the day they capture or kill Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. And that, of...
• Zachary, Policing decisions are about protecting the public, police officers and most importantly, not using deadly force unless absolutely necessary to sav...
• Zachary, Think ballot box. It might take that before the light truly goes on! This is a peach of an issue for us.
• Zachary, This is minor to moderate damage to property. No lives were lost and no one was seriously injured. Hopefully, Cannon will be able to push through...
• Yes, quite so...
• Zachary, The other thing that really makes me laugh is the fact that Petreus' thinking isn't too far off from that of McChrystal...the only difference is ...
• Zachary, FIrst point: nice drive-by smear! But moving on, the last time I checked anarchists were without formal party affiliation. And one more thing:...
• Give your head a shake Zachary. Call me skeptical but I somehow doubt ZACHARY, "ONE" of the parade marshals, would have gone to the fore to tell the anarchis...
• Zachary, I do not practice in Ontario but here it goes: yes, there are various legal obligations to assist police during an investigation. We are also und...
• Zachary, Let's simply call our discourse a draw, shall we?
• Just For the Record... I think the recent media speculation that this Prime Minister is planning to manoeuver his government into a fall election is just ...
• Zachary, Agreed that: a) there will be no election in the fall because it takes three to tango and we Liberals don't seem to be planning on joining the...
• The Big Canada Day Announcement? I don't know about you but I'm inclined to think that this Prime Minister will break the news on Canada Day -- after it, ...
• Zachary, You forgot to mention that the strip searches were not videotaped...at least one woman says her strip search was conducted by a male officer...
• Zachary, Quite frankly, I'm astonished to see YOU, of all persons, electing to continue to go down such a LOW ROAD. I would have thought that was unbecoming...
• Consertative Supporter, Thanks for the compliment but I know precisely zilch about policing, not to mention policing tactics. CS, correct me if I'm wrong bu...
• Consertative Supporter, You, me and perhaps many Canadians want an inquiry -- but then look at the situation in Quebec: 70-90% are either calling, or in som...
• Consertative Supporter, To be fair to this Prime Minister, can you imagine how awkward it would have been on Canada Day to have both the Queen and Governor ...
• Blackacadian, As I've consistently said, the best guarantor of a Conservative minority government is this Prime Minister himself. In a rather ironic way, St...
• Consertative Supporter, I think I know who may get the nod but I prefer not to go there. After all, it was a good Conservative who gave me a heads up and ...
• Zachary, Their view of the world is not my view of it...
• Zachary, Are you telling me that you have it ON THE RECORD that "...each and every group that marched in that riot has supported the comments, policies br...
• Zachary, We don't have the same recollection. It was my impression that some Liberals supported either or both Meech and Charlottetown while others suppor...
• Zachary, It's impossible to say categorically that none of the regular protesters are Conservatives. But I'll bet it's a fair point to say those few CPC s...
• Zachary, I don't agree with the original U of O position. No one needs to take any action to discredit Ann Coulter. Her message does the job all by itself...
• Zachary, The president is accountable to the Chancellor and the University Senate, in whatever form it happens to operate at the U of O. At first blush, I ...
• Zachary, Somehow I doubt that the CCLA are a bunch of raving lunatics who would bring nothing but frivolous lawsuits without merit in an attempt to promote ...
• Zachary, I would categorize Michael's position as short-sighted and somewhat alarmist. I urge him to rethink this. We should really be going the safeguard r...
• Zachary, I see this is blue herring time, again! Canadians' adverse reaction is to the conduct of the black block/anarchist/thugs and NOT TO LEGITIMATE peac...
• Consertative Supporter, You're talking about the capitalist way -- or should I say trick -- and it works with both metric and imperial measurement. Industr...
• Zachary, You posted this yourself: “Ideally, we would hope the federal government would offer a compensation package to not only people wrongfully detained...
• Likewise.
• From Threehundredeight.com. On Renewing The Federation. Ronald O'Dowd said... Shadow, With respect, you are dead wrong. Let's start on a theoretical plan...
• Consertative Supporter, Sorry. Actor Harry Morgan played Colonel Sherman Potter on M*A*S*H. As for the enhanced driver's license, here in Quebec, I'm told ...
• Too bad you haven't met a Bond Girl yet! But they say the third time is the charm.
• On another matter: do you think the US is heading for a double-dip? Are you avoiding the markets now or simply waiting for things to settle down a bit (like ...
• Consertative Supporter, There are plenty of crooks across the globe -- not to mention in this country. I'm for proactive enforcement wherever that is both a...
• Consertative Supporter, Thanks. We both seem to have a love for micro and small caps. Personally, I prefer the game to the actual $$$ generation (as opposed...
• Zachary, Last time I checked, the G80 wasn't being held at Queen's Park...logically, one exercises one's democratic rights as close to the venue that is the...
• Zachary, That gentleman is brave and however commendable his action, policing is best left to the police. In fact, that is the view of the police. After all...
• Zachary, Are you telling me that Spadina and the other streets (whose names escape me, not being from Toronto) are not downtown? If so, I stand corrected.
• Zachary, Perhaps, in your opinion. But not mine. We may as well drop this since quite obviously, we will never agree.
• Zachary, Let's just say it shows you aren't a lawyer...legal reasoning does not work by wide swatch.
• Zachary, Two posts back you said everything occurred around Queen's Park. In this post, you write about events which took place in the downtown core. Which ...
• Zachary, Quite obviously, Section 1 can be applied to police actions but to pretend that it provides sufficient legal cover for all police actions from thre...
• Zachary, Perhaps for the only time in your life, please take some advice from me -- and don't let it get around that you happen to agree wholeheartedly wit...
• Time For Richard Fadden To Think...Again. I want to begin by stating that CSIS Director Richard Fadden has made an outstanding contribution to Canada in the...
• And You Thought This Prime Minister's Sport Was Hockey! Hate to disappoint you, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper has hidden talents in a sport not well kno...
• Zachary, Smoke screen time, eh! You know perfectly well that if Canada made a repatriation request that the U.S. would abandon the military tribunal and s...
• Zachary, SO I take it then that you are completely in agreement that Fadden does not owe an apology to any person or cultural community. That is not my view.
• Zachary, Of course, you meant to say allegedly tossing a grenade. As you know, there is some question as to who actually tossed it. I presume the next ...
• Zachary, Let me know who's going to break it to Jason...there goes all his work with the cultural communities -- flush. Not that I'm actually complaining ...

Harper ahead but slides as Best PM; Leaders slide in wake of negativity (Nanos Poll Completed May 3rd 2010) (2010-05-10)

• Zachary, Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Please don't consign us to the ash heap just yet!
• Poor Stephen -- No One In Sight To Come On Down To His Sandbox!!!! Come on Prime Minister. Stand next to the mirror and take a long, hard, good look...see t...
• Hollinm, Zachary, "Ronald....lets remember the U.K. coalition is not a coalition of the losers. It is a coalition of the party who one the most seats and...
• Hollinm, Just think IMPONDERABLES. After all, you have a recent example right before you: both yours truly and Gordon Brown were convinced he couldn't los...
• Hollinm, I will, thanks! As for Donolo, I suspect I've already exhausted that subject. Have a good weekend -- that is, unless this Prime Minister is...
• Zachary, Now, let me get this straight -- first Conservatives were bitching and complaining that almost no one was covering Lee's alleged transgressions and...
• Zachary, That's accurate. The eminent jurists have the final say. And what they say will determine the future viability of this government. If their view is...
• Come Zachary, neither of us can be right (or wrong) all the time. The most high will determine which one of us gets to be "The House" at the election casino....
• Zachary, That's one of the many things I most like about Michael -- got to give it to him, the man is P-E-R-C-E-P-T-I-V-E, isn't he. We are both on the same...
• Now Hollinm, didn't you get the memo??? This Prime Minister doesn't DO public inquiries!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have thought, if nothing else, that that highly...
• Conservatives: Quick, Grab Those Shovels And Get The Old Backfilling Going! I have to tip my hat to 49 Steps. What has been posted over at ThreeHundredEight...
• The Yes and No Prime Minister! Got to give it to this Prime Minister. He has taken his pretzel making to new heights what with his recent flexibility on Hel...
• So Much For Another Conservative "Brilliant" Idea... Rethink, Prime Minister. Or prepare to get burned on yet another issue: "Half want Jean back as GG: p...
• Hollinm, This Prime Minister and I know each other's mind well. And that's why I can confidently say that he's heading for a fall, given his current traject...
• Zachary, I don't do talking points. Never have and never will! What you see is what you get and it's straight O'Dowd.
• Zachary, This Prime Minister is increasingly vulnerable on the question of women -- not to mention their right to do as they please with their bodies. Make ...
• Zachary, Notice in the main that Michael happens to be rising. Also take note that some others happen to be falling.
• Zachary, As a musical connaisseur, I know you'll be able to relate to this: The Fifth Dimension - Up, Up And Away Would you like to ride in my beautiful b...
• Zachary, Think Liberal uptick. Watch carefully. It's coming.
• Zachary, They were going south. We are coming off the bottom and rising. Will that continue? We'll see.
• Zachary, Then with respect, does that suggest that you fall in the category of Ye of little faith!?
• As you can see Zachary -- I've still got (unlike some Liberals) the old-fashioned Ignatieff religion. And we aren't talking Russian Orthodox here.
• You know how it goes when hasty decisions are made. You panic, wanting to save the ship and in the end, you come to severely regret the optics... Sound fami...
• Zachary, Like many Canadians, I'm confident you"ll see the shining light as soon as the election rolls around. Repent Zachary, repent, before it's too late.
• Zachary, You don't agree with me that to come off the bottom, one has to rise? One of us is right. Let's see which one, in subsequent polls.
• Zachary, I prefer: Because Canadians could be mine, Michael walks the line!
• Zachary, Can't say that I have. Please enlighten me. Thanks.
• Zachary, Anything is possible in politics. But I prefer to keep the faith. I'm looking forward to going to the polls this fall.
• You are nothing if not wise Zachary. You never know who might be reading!
• See you.
• Playing The Public For Saps. Well, congratulations to all MPs other than the Bloc who continue to steadfastly resist the overtures of Auditor General Sheila...
• Hollinm, Why state the obvious? Both of us know perfectly well that we Liberals also have some pro-life MPs...nothing remotely sinister about not mentioning...
• Hollinm, Again, why state the obvious. Of course, we are hypocrites. These are POLITICIANS we're talking about: they are ALL HYPOCRITES. That's the nature o...
• Hollinm, Perhaps you forget how often I kissed the last leader's ring when I was still in the same party as you are! If they are expecting that in the new p...
• Hollinm, If that's the case, please explain to me why this Prime Minister is suffering from a serious case of election phobia! Stephen is now bending into a...
• Hollinm, How can you say that I would return to the Conservatives? I became a Progressive Conservative to fight Harper. I did not like his views as Alliance...
• Hollinm, Nice yarn. But now the real deal: yes, this Prime Minister will see to it that active or retired justices (to his liking) will be named. Personally...
• Hollinm, I'm not a woman so my views are academic IMHO. But I think we can both say that if we are to have abortions, which I endorse, the emphasis should b...
• Hollinm, Have you any idea how low I am on the Liberal radar? Yours truly is not someone that Michael (much less D-O-N-O-L-O!!!!!!!!!!) speaks to on the pho...
• Hollinm, I agree with your concerns. This is a matter of gradation: it makes my blood boil when we worry about ministers using Challengers instead of commer...
• Bernie, Perhaps the alleged backdating of Oliphant Commission counsel billing by PCO might fall into that category...
• HC in AB, A lot of the fronted candidates will be disqualified by the mandatory bilingual nature of the position. Such is life...
• HC in AB, Agreed, but you remember what the Supreme Court told Trudeau about constitutional convention...
• Zachary, Interesting. Will get back to you tomorrow. Still buried in work (and another matter but you know me -- at least I'm making life very interesting...
• Why Am I Smiling? A few days, I was asked to take a preliminary look at the latest EKOS numbers -- you remember EKOS, the supposedly biased polling firm wi...
• Zachary, It was amusing to see this Prime Minister (for once) insert a positive wedge to preëmpt a major abortion debate in the next campaign. I would call ...
• From Bob and Weave On Abortion To Cut And Run On MP Expenses Auditing. You have to hand it to this Prime Minister. The man knows where to find some shade as...
• Zachary, There is no coalition on this issue. Jack refuses to tango and Michael is only now seriously considering putting his Fraser-inspired costume on. On...
• Pourquoi et comment? Le fruit n'est pas mûr. Voilà la réponse qui vient du gouvernement fédéral ainsi que des autres provinces et territoires. Je pense beac...
• Those Poor Lost Souls Up In Ottawa. Isn't it bad enough that our representatives on the Hill seem to have lost their way on the issue of accountability and ...
• Bernie, Ditto for Marlene Jennings who was all over the tube yesterday in both official languages!
• Starting To Get Royally Pissed Off... I don't know about you -- but if you caught Bob Fife's piece on Canada Am this morning, you are probably like me: no...
• Hi! You remember me. I'm the guy who has been pushing for the defeat of this government since last May. I realize now that I should really be in a rubber ro...
• Blackacadian, Pleased to hear from you. I know that I along with others appreciate your views. We can keep plugging away but in the final analysis, the le...
• Bernie, Politics is in a sad state when it goes from blood sport to cut throat, at almost every opportunity. I don't just blame this Prime Minister, I bla...
• Zachary, Nice to have you back. This is like a walk in the park for me. I don't know the meaning of frustration -- remember when I was a Red Tory in a par...
• Now Zachary, all you have ownership of is a POSSIBLE solution, not a definite one. As for the Speaker, Milliken knows his time is up in light of his previ...
• Zachary, Funny that you (not to mention Spector) should be so pre-occupied with mere internal housekeeping. Don't you worry, as soon as we get to the elec...
• One more thing. Last time I checked Jenni Byrne wasn't performing any miracles either...
• Ditto for Ghislain Maltais.
• Memo To Kevin O'Leary. When it comes to high finance and investing, a lot of us take a backseat to Kevin O'Leary. Now, Kevin claims (or at least he did on...
• But Zachary, the situation isn't "fixed" yet even though this Prime Minister wants it "wrapped up" by the weekend. Perhaps Conservative members of the BIE a...
• UPDATE: Tony made CTV News Tonight. The PMO says he has done nothing wrong by serving as a pitchman (more or less) for a company in his riding. Naturally, o...
• Zachary, This is a question of gradation: Conservatives coast to avoid losing power; Liberals choose to coast because some of them believe we can't win an...
• Zachary, If standardization and consistency in web expense posting is the name of the game --I'm all for it! But that cat is already out of the bag wit...
• Zachary, We each have our strategy and I can guarantee you that one of us is right!!!
• Zachary, Suffice it to say that Graves needs an extended vacation if that is really his view. We both know this Prime Minister -- who has ranted and ra...
• We May Not Have Problems In The Gulf Of Mexico... But it isn't all peaches and cream here either...as a for instance: just wait until Hurricane Helena fin...
• National Securities Regulator: Harper Will Win Hands-Down. As discussed here previously, the matter has been referred to the Supreme Court of Canada. M...
• Zachary, Bob Rae is not the positioning kind. In future he may run again for the leadership, or he may not.
• Well, we can't be sure what she did or didn't do. Was something serious done outright or is she really suffering allegedly from so-called guilt by associatio...
• Zachary, That's not how anyone eventually becomes leader after the Chrétien/Martin wars and I think Bob knows that.
• Zachary, Once again, (and not for the first or even second time...), there goes my future job in Ottawa. Beyond belief, incredibly stupid -- barring furth...
• Please Zachary, a vigorous, healthy rivalry among good friends does not a war make. Lighten up or better yet, join the PM at Harrington Lake for a few warm, ...
• Zachary, Both of us remain range bound. Put another way, the voters have yet to find confidence in either of us. But this too shall eventually pass for one ...
• Why Jack, What Are You Guys Thinking? Are you sure we're talking the New Democrats here!? I thought you were among the parties that had heard Canadians' "me...
• Zachary, Don't you get it by now? As long as there is no formal coalition signing agreement and petition of the Governor General for power, there is no octa...
• Right, build an out and they will come (Conservatives) and drive as many trucks as possible through it...to avoid government accountability on this issue. ...
• Zachary, Then you must be with me -- in favour of an election as quickly as possible. I want those same Canadians to have their say, the sooner the better. ...
• Zachary, An election is only "not necessary" if the country wants the Conservatives to remain in power. Are you quite sure that's what most Canadians want? ...
• There Goes The Bulldozer, Again... God, it's displays like that -- seen in the Government Operations Committee today by Transport Minister John Baird that o...
• HC in AB, You make many valid points. Yours is a fair comment on conduct often unbecoming in Ottawa -- generally coming from all sides. But remember, as a ...
• Careful Zachary, Your "blue" herring is showing!
• Zachary, As usual, your consideration for keeping me up to date with the latest polling information is much appreciated. Much more work to be done by all ...
• Zachary, We Liberals believe that the The Brotherhood of Man said it best: There's nowhere in the world that I would rather be Than with you my love And ...
• Afghanistan: No Way José. Some may want an "intense discussion" on our future role, if any, in Afghanistan. The combat mission ends in July 2011 with total ...
• Detaching Ten MPs From Their Province? Liberals, Bloquistes and NDPers in Quebec will be keenly watching to see if the hammer comes down on Conservative Sen...
• Zachary, One thing is for sure: you are WELL rested!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Zachary, Ever think about becoming a writer? Here's some helpful advice though -- if I were you, I would concentrate my efforts on Fiction! Your talents l...
• Zachary, All about politics! Well, I never...imagine that -- not to mention the genuine astonishment coming from all those "apolitical" and "non-ideology-...
• From Reflecting Blues To Reflecting Pool... Our tax dollars at work: wasn't it bad enough to discover that the security cost associated with the upcoming G2...

Federal Conservatives Lead (Nanos Poll Completed May 3rd 2010) (2010-05-06)

• Zachary, Nice try but we both know that leadership review calls along with Dump X movements don't start that way. Take my own experience: we only moved agai...
• Hollinm, Quite a long absence. Glad you're back! Now how about taking your own advice, that is, if your comment was meant to be anything more than tongue-i...
• Hollinm, Buy Zachary a drink. He could really use one. Something (or is it someone?) seems to have gotten under his skin (wink!)... At least he didn't have...
• Hi Tom, I really wonder how many Progressive Conservatives (rank and file) are still in the Conservative game. A frank assessment could come from Senator Hu...
• Hollinm, Why don't you and Zachary start a Rae draft. Please. We both know that Bob Rae will never be the leader: a) A generational change is in the cards ...
• Hollinm, As usual, your remarks are more than perceptive. But the truth is they don't give a damn in the PMO. All they really care about is to continue runn...
• Hollinm, I understand the argument you make but I don't agree with it. Get the Red Book on track, and then get into an election. And see what happens. Never...
• Hollinm, You will probably fall off your chair but here it goes: I've taken the measure of Michael. I find many of the same tremendous strengths that I fin...
• Hollinm, I have done well not to underestimate this Prime Minister since 2004. The battle carries on, simply in a new form, in another political incarnation...
• Hollinm, On the strict narrow argument of doing anything to stay in office, of course, all parties feel that way. No one is denying it. But as you know, we ...
• Hollinm, You may have what I would term relatively minor differences with this government. I respect that. But you know Harper's trajectory as well as I do:...
• Hollinm, You have left me ALMOST speechless. I'll bet if either of us was Prime Minister, we would find it foolhardy that Harper is willing to take the ston...
• Hollinm, Smears coming from any party do not win elections...Liberals can only win alone. No formal or informal (wink-nod) agreement will cut the mustard. I...
• Hollinm, I don't approve of anyone in the Canadian government being labeled a war criminal. To even be suspected of such, one has to be at least complicit i...
• Hollinm, And that's precisely why we should follow Leona's fine example instead of ridiculing her for not being aggressive or confrontational enough. God kn...
• Hollinm, They say love is blind. (It once certainly did apply to yours truly.) And I suspect one can say in all fairness that it's the case with Helena. She...
• Hollinm, This is meant as a joke so I hope it will be taken that way: You sound a lot like Dewey. I prefer to concentrate on replicating the role of T-R-U-...
• Zachary, I for the most part, did not go after Helena. I plan on doing the same with Lee or anyone else. If there is something there, I'm for transparency. ...
• Zachary, You just kill me sometimes...as someone who is a self-confessed former Liberal, isn't it just a little rich for you to call Rae a sell-out? I mean...
• Zachary, My sentiments exactly. At least, as regards the specialty of litigation... Exceedingly well said.
• Zachary, You know how the generics of these things work and it applies to all parties -- regardless of whether one has the media in their pocket or even eat...
• Zachary, As long as we are being candid: voted for Clark, Mulroney, Turner, Chrétien and Harper. Did not vote for Campbell nor Charest.
• Zachary, Agreed. Still think that all passes are, at best, temporary.
• Zachary, Nighty, night. Off to Threehundredeight.com now.
• Tom, When Dion organized his future coalition, I was on board as I saw it as a means to an end, namely, to sink this Conservative government. Then would com...
• Hollinm, Agreed that the Martin record will hurt Liberals -- but only on the margins. You know how the PMO works. Direction and responsibility flows from t...
• Hollinm, She is our Health Minister. From Nunavut.
• Hollinm, Come on. Harper is not anti-democratic, or even anti-women as some may allege. What he is on these two issues is scheming -- to his supposed advant...
• Hollinm, Our job is not to think it. Ours is to make it HAPPEN.
• Josée Speaks. Just caught Josée Verner on Les coulisses du pouvoir on Radio-Canada. She did a good job of getting her views across -- trouble is, it was not...
• Hollinm, Your comments regarding Michael are not what I would have expected of you. I prefer to leave it at that.
• Happy Mother's Day To All Moms! I'm a lucky person. My Mom is still with us. Off to spend the day with her. Hope most of you can do the same. Remember, putt...
• Hollinm, Of course he is scheming and yes, you are correct, he did what all PMs have done in the past...scheme to stay in office. As for mean-spirited,...
• Hollinm, Let's have some fun and take them one by one: 1) Abortion: Ron onside; 2) Gay Pride: Big money maker for TO - Ron onside but believe in rot...
• Hollinm, I don't remember Dion saying he was "not a leader" nor Ignatieff saying he was "just visiting"...
• Hollinm, "That was the problem with the Red Tories. They were really Liberal light." Are you inviting all Red Tories (including Senator Segal) to leave...
• Hollinm, We can use that tired phrase 1000 times but it still won't make it right.
• Watching Helena With Mansbridge. Personally, I found it rather painful to watch. Clearly, she is suffering greatly. She strikes me as being a person who off...
• Hollinm, If you know anything at all about Warren, you know that he doesn't do bale...he is the best fighter that we've got whether or not that happens to b...
• Hollinm, As anyone given any consideration as to how some people will look if she turns out to be nothing more than a dupe? Might I suggest that there will ...

Economic optimism muted (Nanos Economic Monitor, First Quarter 2010) (2010-03-23)

• Contraception and Abortion: Essential Elements To Securing Women's Health. Well, it's no surprise that the Liberal motion on maternal and child health in ...
• Zachary, Re: Paragraphs 1, 2 and 4: watch the hammer come down. It won't be pretty but it will be memorable! Zachary, they don't call it the first offe...
• Zachary, Again, we disagree. Women are the key to any theoretical Conservative majority government. And I'll bet you all the tea in China (I know, corny a...
• Zachary, No one questions the review process by Mr. Justice Iacobucci. Now, the government claims that he will be given complete access from 2001 onward. ...
• Zachary, We will both be watching for confirming polls. Then we can take it from there.
• Zachary, Rather nice broad skate around my previous post, don't you think? Interesting. See you tomorrow. Off to the restaurant now for supper.
• Zachary, Nice of you to think of my personal welfare. See ya.
• Zachary, I take your point and deduce from it that there will be no political interference from the government nor resort to the courts. That is a wise de...
• Zachary, Remember, to err is human, forgive divine...we need a lot more of that in politics!
• Zachary, One proviso -- granted the numbers may stay the same -- I'll give you that but remember, our job is to try and get traction on this. I'll unde...
• E N O U G H A L R E A D Y, S I N K T H I S D A M N E D G O V E R N M E N T ! I don't know about you but I'm sick and tired of playing the role of ...
• Maritimer, Thank you. I would remind you that we haven't lost YET - let's wait until the ballot are counted, shall we? See you on the campaign trail!
• Zachary, You know my position on national security versus parliamentary privilege. You also know that I believe that the government is using the pretext o...
• Bernie, Excellent post. You said it a lot better than I did. Thanks for your support on this.
• Zachary, If the oppositon is actually pushing for 100% of the documents to enter the public domain, that is a no-go for any reasonable person. They have t...
• Zachary, Correct me if I'm wrong but my view is that you are at point A, the opposition position is apparently at point B. Yours truly is roughly half ...
• Zachary, Not at all. I still maintain that the Martin government and those ministers still within Liberal ranks who served under him will get to wear it f...
• Zachary, Please. The public service is non-partisan but they know how (and better) to take direction from their political masters...need I say anything fu...
• Zachary, Media or not, does anyone seriously think that the Conservatives will not run with this ball? Of course they will -- it's sound political tactics...
• Zachary, IMHO, that one is clearly out the window. No question this government is in for some incoming. It may be major or it may not. But in the world of...
• Zachary, I take your point so long as you also agree that Conservatives have done precisely the same thing in the House in the past. We can leave it to ne...
• Fowler Gives 'Em Hell. Robert Fowler fired the ultimate broadside as Liberals met in Montreal over the weekend to chart the party's course heading into an...
• Zachary, Yup. Absolutely. You know how it goes. The longer we wait, the weaker we look. An alternative government has to stand up and be counted, just lik...
• Zachary, I would have thought that his remarks jolted pretty much everyone in the room out of their complacency. Or at least, it had better have.
• Thanks, But No Thanks. The United States along with some our allies would like Canada to take on a training role in Kabul once we leave Khandahar in July ...
• Great News, Prime Minister! Dear Prime Minister, I've studied your exam carefully and after a thorough review, have decided to take up your mark a notch in...
• Zachary, If you must know -- C-. (Nothing to write home about...)
• Zachary, Would you happen to know if those two are related by any chance to Joe Biden???!!!
• Zachary, You're talking grades based on polling performance. I'm talking grades concerning relations with the media and the parliamentary press gallery en...
• Zachary, I don't know. It might be a flash in the pan or it could be the start of the next best thing. The regional panels follow next -- there will be on...
• My Last Wish: To Be A Fly On The Wall Over At Kingsmere! Two words are on every parliamentarian's lips these days in Ottawa -- "Milliken's Musings" is all...
• Zachary, Perhaps you need to...polish those binoculars!
• Some Have Really Got It, Others Quite Obviously Don't. There's an art to speaking your own personal truth on reproductive services, contraception and aborti...
• Zachary, You know how to play the game. We've both been at it for a while now...you know perfectly well that that presidential executive order was merely ...
• Zachary, One more thing: Canada may have to be dragged kicking and screaming back to its longstanding policy on foreign aid (by the Americans). Otherwise....
• Zachary, With respect, you've got it wrong. The Tea Partyers have shown themselves to be extremists outside the mainstream of American politics. In Novemb...
• Zachary, Not really -- the inherant danger for this Prime Minister lies in the fact that quite obviously he wants nothing to do with abortion services as ...
• Zachary, Excellent point on the dynamics of the women's vote and their message. Certainly worth pondering.
• Zachary, Nicely sarcastic. But if it is not Conservative policy domestically, why is it NOT conservative policy INTERNATIONALLY??? Now there's the rub (an...
• Blackacadian, I think we probably would both agree that the Government of Canada can't have one policy on abortion services (in this case a lack of statut...
• Zachary, So-called Liberal "silence" does not dispel the notion that this government is trying to do something internationally that it doesn't have the gu...
• Zachary, Once again we are at an impasse. Time to make hay while the sun shines!
• Do You Really Want To Be Known As The Abortion Police For The Third World? I sure hope that this Prime Minister has taken to wearing boots -- you know the k...
• I Hate To Say I Told You So...But I Did. What a week the Harper government could conceivably have in the "Cut Your Loses" Department. First, they could thro...
• Zachary, Traction is coming, slowly but surely on this one. Just you wait and see.
• Zachary, I did not say the numbers were traction. I said future TRACTION is coming!
• Zachary, Agree with you that my traction is highly theoretical but you know as well as I do that as long as we keep plugging, sooner or later something wi...
• What Did I Tell You...Traction On The Way! The Globe and Mail Blogs: Majority backs abortion rights Bill Curry It is the debate that dare not spe...
• Not Your Run-Of-The-Mill Afghan Musical Score. (one nun at a time) She has a bird And flings her boots She cannot help but swear She throws a fit on her w...
• Consertative Supporter, That's what I like about you...you don't even try to mellow with age! Just in case you didn't know, no one can take away even one o...
• Zachary, Deflection is often an effective tool but as you know, it does not tend to work belatedly! You're talking ancient history here that no longer ...
• Now Zachary -- we can't extrapolate too much from those numbers. Granted it's neck and neck but what both of us need is subsets: ask that same question only ...
• Come on Zachary. You've missed the point entirely. No one, including Liberals wants to enact legislation on abortion. All parties are content with the legal ...
• Zachary, Your analysis is a fair one. I take your point and admit that how you see it may turn out to be correct.
• Zachary, You may consider my remarks condescending -- I consider them a difference regarding approach and tactics. Again, you are pushing and assuming ...
• Zachary, My impression is that it continues to fire up the Conservative base but I doubt much hay can be made with it by the time the next election rolls ...
• Zachary, Agreed that it does mean that, to some extent. Where we wholeheartedly disagree is that I think we can get Grable legs out of it and you are conv...
• Zachary, Each side is convinced that Milliken's ruling will give them a stick to beat the other with and win an election. In short, we agree that the writ...
• Zachary, 1) Partially disagree. The government can seek a reference while the opposition can only seek leave to appeal (but is there a judgment at first i...
• Michaëlle Jean's Second Act. If we are to believe reports in the media, the Governor General will be on the way out this fall when her terms expires. The St...
• Zachary, Candidly, I'm rather surprised by your remarks...this so-called Liberal retread happens to have saved this government's bacon! You know as well as ...
• Oops, that should be Prorogation I.
• How I Despair. Will Humankind Never Learn The Lesson Of Peace? I thought we were finally making progress what with the winding down of foreign forces in Ira...
• Is Mitt "It"? Well, we're finally off to the races in the U.S. speculating on who eventually will take on President Obama in the general election two years ...
• Zachary, Thank you. Same to you. And it will get better when I head off to Laura Secord tomorrow for the usual 50% off. You know what they say about compens...
• Zachary, We're both pros at this game. You know how it goes for all successful candidates: they follow the JS example. First, you have no contact whatsoever...
• Zachary, Think again. Jean has not been a good Governor General. She has also not been an outstanding GG. Michaëlle Jean has in fact been a truly exceptiona...
• It's Easter. I Thank God Every Day That I Will Never Be Prime Minister! Wow, the pile on continues for Helena. I can't believe that we are even discussing h...
• Zachary, We discussed this possibility a couple of months ago. At that time it was our personal speculation based on what the low buzz was in Ottawa. Quite ...
• Zachary, It was the talk of the journalist roundtable on CTV's QP today. Perhaps their website has more on it.
• Zachary, Come on. Of course there is a story here. The Star did not invent it. They heard the same buzz all of Ottawa heard. Now, as I said, if the PM was n...
• Zachary, Let me get this straight: your argument is based on the way The Star reported the Hansen part of the story. Right? In other words, you're perhaps s...
• Zachary, Here is the link from The Ottawa Citizen: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Guergis+great+Ottawa+interest/2755794/story.html
• Zachary, I too found it odd that not one of the persons interviewed said anything in her favour. Now that could be significant in more ways than one...
• Zachary, I did not canvass widely but what I heard or saw was other media citing The Star story. Both CBC and CTV did that, if I'm not mistaken. See you to...
• Zachary, I'm in no position to either support or refute that article. I know nothing about the matter and will be keeping my big mouth shut on this one. See...
• I meant ways. We both know that theoretically, it could cut either in her favour or against her depending on how credible the interview sample was.
• Agreed. In our case it is boeuf (beef) bourguignon. Store bought, mom is 79 after all but tasty as hell all the same!!!
• Gordon Brown Pulls The Plug (Hint, Hint)! This guy reminds me of the great Canadian fighter -- namely, Jean Chrétien. Two polls have Labour ten points bac...
• Zachary, Unlike our own Conservatives who at times bring an entirely new dimension to the word pragmatism (fortunately they are not consistent enough on tha...
• Consertative Supporter, I wondered for ages who that person was who dislikes the Governor General. And now I finally know!
• Hardy To Laurel: "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into." Now, take a moment and substitute just about any head of state or government for Ha...
• I need a vacation...that should be Hamid Karzai.
• Hey Hollinm, Have you left Florida for a trek along the Amazon?! We haven't heard a peep out of you for at least a month. You're not going soft on us, are y...
• Zachary, I guess we are each in our own universe as regards the definition of moderate!!!
• Zachary, What with the 9-11-2001 training camps in Afghanistan, any Canadian government had no logical choice but to be snookered. The attacks put all gov...
• Zachary, The Prime Minister will call the tune on this one -- not the Liberals or anyone else. But in the final analysis, the end result is likely to be t...
• Zachary, Perhaps you've never heard of it but it's called the House of Commons withdrawing its confidence from a particular government. To call that an atte...
• Zachary, With all due respect to you as well, are you telling me that this Prime Minister is prepared to jog-in-place even if this goes on for weeks, if not...
• Zachary, Are you suggesting that this Conservative government had it been in power in 2001 would not have committed forces to Afghanistan? Are you further s...
• Zachary, Then can I take it that we are agreed? All the more reason to get the hell out of there as quickly as possible.
• Zachary, Not another example of the Harper shuffle! How many times has it been done in the past? Personally, I gave up counting some time ago. Besides, if t...
• Sub-Par RCMP Thinking. What is the force thinking? Do they not realize that a terrorist attack on Parliament Hill is not a question of if but merely a matte...
• Zachary, Glover's profile is so obvious it practically glows! Doesn't take a genius to know that she has been tapped for the next cabinet shuffle -- you k...
• Zachary, How can you run with the understanding when the government uses a tactical measure to prevent dissolution. End result: no election where you can ...
• Zachary, I just love that phrase. That must be why I've been for a Canadian election since last May!
• I thought screwing the taxpayer was a mandatory requirement for any government -- federal or otherwise...
• Zachary, At least you have the comfort of knowing that it's in the Nanos Archives!
• Zachary, See you tomorrow afternoon. Otherwise engaged until then...
• Zachary, Perhaps the parliamentary press gallery can run through the next campaign with the following slogan: "Have piss, will travel!"
• Zachary, Quite obviously, you don't seem to know me as well as you think you do! My tactical approach on this file is, shall we say, somewhat unconventiona...
• The Week From Hell... Some past incumbents were actually reported to have said that they enjoyed the job! I doubt you will hear the same from the current oc...
• Has The Message From Canadians Sunk In Yet? For your sake, I hope it finally has. The 32 and 29 percent crowd sure know how not to get something started...h...
• Zachary, I don't have to remind you about the power of the written word.
• Zachary, Both the Liberals and Conservatives can look for and find airplanes. What is missing is the common resolve to actually hop aboard and proceed to ta...
• Zachary, Don't underestimate your contribution to the poltical discourse. It makes people think and more importantly, can change minds.
• In Search Of A Wayward Election, à la Bert Bacharach: Trains and boats and planes are passing by. They mean a trip to Paris or Rome To someone else but not ...
• ...And The Remedy For What Ails Harper and Ignatieff: What the world needs now is love sweet love, It's the only thing that there's just too little of. What...
• Zachary, LOL. And you thought you were only on battery power.
• But Zachary, both of us make it enjoyable otherwise we would be off doing something else!
• Zachary, Afraid not. Since my internal hemmorrhage six years ago, I'm on a daily dose of Nexium for acid reflux disease. You can guess what that means -- no...
• Zachary, Are you actually saying you miss my good Liberal friend. I can ask him to come back, if you wish. I'm sure he's more than willing to oblige!!!!!!!!...
• Prediction Time! As someone who never shies away from looking potentially stupid, here's my UK Election Prediction: Gordon Brown will beat David Cameron an...
• What Should We Be Looking For? In the past, the RCMP has been quick to say which cabinet minister was not under investigation as it related to a particular ...
• Parnel3, I have a bit of an idea how this will eventually shakeout but I suspect that when it's all over things will have taken a bit of a surprising turn. ...
• Parnel3, Some will agree with you but I think this is recoverable for Michael. Even theoretically speaking, this Prime Minister could pull this out if only ...
• Parnel3, You could be right, but remember how far ahead Cameron was a year ago. To yours truly, that is indicative of very soft, lukewarm Conservative suppo...
• Dimitri Soudas: Moving On Up! To begin, congratulations, I think?! If anyone can break the Communications Director curse, he can...I like to see a Prime Min...
• Parnel3, And that is why we look to the RCMP for a fair and impartial investigation. Every Canadian at least deserves that.
• Parnel3, Michael has to ask himself which is more important: a possible change of government following an induced election -- or only going to the people wh...
• Parnel3, All you say is often true but so many Canadians across party lines are consumed with the noble goal of public service rather than personally enrich...
• Parnel3, No one will take seriously what comes out of the QP freak show. I mean it seems to go lower and lower with each passing session. What is done there...
• Consertative Supporter, As tempting as your opening is, I feel in the interest of true political sportsmanship that, alas, I must simply let that golden opp...
• RCMP Idol! Now, I know the rest of you are just like me -- racking your brains trying to figure out precisely what song is best suited to today's mood and i...
• Zachary, This poll only confirms that yours truly is right and you know who is wrong. Stunning revelation in the context of a party that has deliberately ...
• Zachary, Our system is based on representation by population. Only a fool would fight against that principle -- it happens to be fundamental to our democr...
• Come on Zachary -- and the news in that would be? ... Since Confederation, Quebec and Ontario have called the electoral tune. Now, it's the West's turn. N...
• Not So Sure Harper Will Keep His Quebec City Seats. The Bloc wave is coming -- it isn't of the tidal variety but things look good for them. Le Devoir: ...
• Again, Zachary, and the news in that would be! We are both perfectly aware that Quebec has not been a major factor since Trudeau. Gone are the days when L...
• Zachary, When you're the opposition, you give it the old college try knowing full well that events such as these are not what it takes to get back into po...
• Zachary, Not necessarily, stunts like this don't go a long way toward winning the big one but they are a useful tool to help erode some support for the in...
• Zachary, Then you would call ours an uphill fight?
• If Body Language And Tone Of Voice Mean Anything, This Has Got To Be Really Big! If you haven't already, go check out Question Period. Pay particular attent...
• Here Comes Another Round Of Ouch... The Globe and Mail: "Quebec's governing Liberal Party took donations in cash to get around election finance laws and al...
• Zachary, Michael knows what he has to do. He can do it and win or choose to continue on the same course and lose.
• Zachary, Of course, your theory is within the realm of the possible. And why do we probably both think this phenomenon is happening to the Liberal Party? ...
• Futility Forty-Seven Times Over. Don't pat yourselves too much on the back. Nothing like a nice confab in Washington, D.C. to promote the false illusion o...
• Zachary, Thanks for the update! (And on another note -- this Prime Minister's 51st will be one of the best ever: having already received an early birth...
• Zachary, One would think that they would be sufficiently trained regarding the above -- not to mention access to lawyers calling from Calgary...
• Zachary, Fun in the federal sun; alleged provincial bums must be rather glum!
• Zachary, Well, I think he should have had telephone access to at least one of his two Calgary counsel (even if he had already spoken with an Ontario legal...
• Zachary, Perhaps we are dealing with a Calley-type incident, and perhaps not. We have to be extremely careful here and follow the evidence. We don't want ...
• Zachary, This reminds me of Bellemare -- you can't shoot off your mouth without having the proof to back it up. I assume Bellemare does but who really kno...
• If You Don't Know The Meaning Of INCREDIBLY Stupid, Rest Assured You're Not Alone! To wit: this little gem brought to us by the kind folks over at The Sta...
• Skip The Funeral. As they say, discretion is the better part of valour: with the skies across Europe covered in ash and with the inherent difficulties -- so...
• Shifting Sands. So much for all that crowing about a Conservative ten-point lead -- in a recent Ipsos Reid poll, which was reported by Canwest News Service:...
• From Nick Who? to Nick C-L-E-G-G. Guess what? This won't exactly come as news to any of you but the UK Conservatives aren't exactly wild about the prospect ...
• Ash: Not Exactly This Government's Friend... This government seems to have more than its share of volcanic tempers -- sadly, up until now, what it has been ...
• What Is Charest Thinking? What I wouldn't give to get into the head of Jean Charest...to find what the spinning wheels are really up to. When at least seven...
• Consertative Supporter, As an RCMP supporter, please take a look at Comment 21 over at Threehundredeight .com. Thanks. threehundredeight.blogspot.com ...
• Poor Max. Here's a brief excerpt from Le Devoir concerning Maxime Bernier's short to medium term goal: A-t-il envie de devenir chef du Parti conservate...
• Hi Zachary, You make an interesting point. I doubt we are dealing here with deliberate manipulations -- no reputable polling company would be that stupid....
• Zachary, A) Culture wars are not my kind of politics. I don't like that approach; B) Activism: one has to define the flavour of the ice cream! If it's ...
• Zachary, Michael has no choice but to be as tough as nails. He has to get out the whip and the chair...otherwise he will be perceived as not having the ri...
• Zachary, I must say that I'm a great fan of your argument around timing and whipping the vote. That would have been a masterstroke -- too bad no one in th...
• Now Zachary, are you sure you won't entertain returning to the Liberals??? What the hell -- thought I would give it a shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (We co...
• Still No Word From Milliken. Will it be tomorrow? Something about this is starting to unsettle my stomach. I have a bad feeling building. I hope I'm wrong.
• Zachary, Have read your last two posts. Take it from me: no doubt that you are no longer on battery power. You're at the peak of your game in this cycle. ...
• Zachary, Clever deflection by the CPC. But we both know that only complete idiots would play such a dangerous game. Ekos has to be at arms length with its...
• Zachary, Pure hard-edged, naked politics along the Rideau and Ottawa rivers. Who would have thought of it...
• Zachary, I prefer to regard it as flanking the Maginot Line!
• So Much For Green Conservative Shoots. Forget about spring flowers -- much less warm, tender, green Conservative shoots. Did you get a load of the recent le...
• Consertative Supporter, Do you think Bernier can spell the word pandering? Just checking...
• HC In AB, Glad to get your input. I would remind Canada's leaders that in politics -- as in life -- you make things happen, preferably in a big-way! All pri...
• Consertative Supporter, I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't go over to ThreeHundredEight.com to read my comment on the long-gun registry. Fact is, as you...
• Here's my post at ThreeHundredEight.com: C O A L I T I O N for Gun Control / pour le contrôle des armes www.guncontrol.ca Police shootings in Canada Offic...
• Zachary, Liberals have to hold the political center to win. That is painfully obvious to any seasoned political observer -- much less so to the operative cl...
• Zachary, I take your point that some of this alleged Conservative disavowal is probably manufactured but we can both remember back to the bad old days of 20...
• Zachary, Agreed on who may or may not be right! Interesting on how Cameron hasn't caught fire...like the guy myself but he seems to have peaked too soon. I...
• Zachary, I supported going there but never expected an outright win, as previously discussed. If we went to Afghanistan as an operation aimed at containing ...
• Remember Zachary, to play the "long game" is to save the long-gun registry. Agree that we may not win in the short term unless Jack's people find reality on ...
• Zachary, Agreed that Jaffer-Guergis is not the driving force for political discontent. But look to HC in AB's point which I think makes great political sens...
• Zachary, As said elsewhere, Canadian resources have to be redeployed toward counter-terrorism efforts in our own country. The "next" attack may be on Canadi...
• Zachary, Will you agree that much depends on the game plan coming out of the OLO? If it's a Liberal-alone strategy aggressively planned and implemented that...
• Zachary, Like the UK election, we are on different planets on this one also.
• Agreed.
• Zachary, Goddess Danielle Hamamdjian is reporting on CTV National News that Guergis will not be the candidate next time. Craig Oliver also says that this Pr...
• What's your impression? I really have no idea. Will Britons, like Canadians, instinctively recoil at the idea? I'll bet Cameron is praying for that as his H...
• You forgot wings and a prayer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Sorry, no. But you are right to say it's not a definite but it sure looks like the PMO wind is blowing in that direction. But again, we can't say it's for su...
• Zachary, That's where my head was at regarding the Canadian coalition experience and all of us know how well that one turned out...it was a real eye-opener ...
• Zachary, No question that reducing the deficit at a quicker pace than originally projected is a net positive for Conservatives. But balance will still be fo...
• Zachary, Number One: I can relate to that. Number Two: I presume her innocent of everything, imagined or soon to be alleged. But my gut tells me that if sh...
• Hey Zachary, You've seen Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre, Jr. on TV boasting how GM has paid back its loan five years ahead of schedule. Same ring, different...
• Max Bernier Makes It Perfectly Clear, Or Does He? In an interview with the Radio-Canada program Les coulisses du pouvoir, Maxime Bernier said categorically ...
• Blackacadian, Works for me!
• Prime Minister: You Really Shouldn't Have But I'm Awfully Glad You Did! What with my birthday only two days away, I have to say that this is probably the fi...
• Zachary, Of course I remember that poll. But you're in for one hell of a surprise when or if that poll is eventually broken down by sex! Get women out to t...
• Zachary, The Harper contraception position will do this government no good -- it comes off as an after-thought once the broadside on abortion is factored in...
• Come on Zachary. Agree with you that they may have been polling but you know them -- they would (and probably have) bulldoze ahead in spite of the polls. ...
• Zachary, Do you agree with me that up until now that pro-life women have been far more likely to be active politically than their pro-choice counterparts?...
• Please Zachary. Put the shoe on the other foot and of course, a Conservative Party opposition in the context of a Liberal minority government would be doing ...
• Time For Some More Liberal Recalibration... In Harris/Decima's own words: The last two weeks finds both the Conservatives and Liberals now below 30%. ...
• Zachary, That's all good and well but it doesn't explain both of our continuing dropping numbers.
• Zachary, Into one box or into another. Nice piece of work that, tactically speaking.
• Zachary, I find your analysis more than reasonable and fair. We will have to wait and see if both our parties continue to deflate to the profit of the NDP...
• Zachary, Aren't we saying the same thing?
• Zachary, You'll recall how I made hay on more occasions than I can remember about NDP pension MPs (as of this June!). Well, that sounds like a good reason...
• Peter Milliken Rules Against The Government. However, the Speaker limits the right of public disclosure related to matters of national security. I'll bet ...
• Zachary, We both know that the best defence is a good offense. And that is precisely what this government will do --- one way or another...
• Zachary, We're doing the best we can on the fly...
• Zachary, Of minor importance will be the art of negotiation (probably at the house leader level). How that goes could be important but again, I can feel t...
• Zachary, That is the logical next advanced chess move but don't forget the hidden surprise which this Prime Minister no doubt planned quite some time ago....
• Zachary, Let's take it in three parts: i) Yes, there will be some compromise to national security which will at the very least endanger our soldiers ov...
• Zachary, Sometimes it takes quite a few hits on the noggin to get it. (That was the case with me on popular reaction to a possible coalition government unde...
• Zachary, If that's the Prime Minister's call, so be it. I have no problem with going to an election. But quite candidly, that is not a decision I would mak...
• Zachary, I'm not offended by your dig. Successful parties tend to have that mindset, particularly after having tasted power.
• Zachary, I'm not saying yours isn't a logical approach. I'm simply saying to approach abortion funding in this particular manner -- when all is said and don...
• Zachary, I like the second paragraph. That has a lot of mileage in it. Sound argument.
• Look Zachary, let's be plain about things: this Prime Minister is intent upon out-bluffing the opposition bluffers. I dare you to sink us, the PM suggests. A...
• Please. Milliken is no dolt. The man has just given up the speakership if the Harper government is returned. That took one hell of a lot of GUTS. Give him (...
• Zachary, Nope. We can replace this government only through a motion of non-confidence. We need an up and down vote with each opposition party biting the bul...
• Relax, none taken. Nothing personal to you either!
• Sorry Zachary. You should rephrase: it is one thing to say that Milliken broke the law. That is misguided. It is quite another to say that Milliken misinterp...
• Zachary, He who chooses not to pay is likely to ultimately end up paying the price...
• You don't believe that this is almost mana for us. I guess we'll have to prove you wrong by demonstrating it!
• We're talking constitutional law here. Pelletier or Franks (or their ilk) can give us the real dope. The rest of us are just guessing...
• Zachary, No argument there about walking away. That is a fatal mistake if it becomes protracted. We are awfully close to the line already...is Donolo paying...
• Zachary, I gave you my view. That does not mean that I'm right (even if I think I am). That also does not mean that you are wrong. But neither of us practic...
• Zachary, Yes, if the present trend continues and it may. But if Michael manages to shake things up with a new twist, who knows? I guess we'll both have...
• Zachary, My standard Stephen Harper joke is that no matter what happens politically or personally to either of us, HE will always be two years OLDER than ...
• Welcome Back! I want to thank my Conservative and Liberal friends for joining us once again -- hopefully on a sustained basis. Things are going to be q...
• There Sure Seems To Be A Lot Of Dull Knives in Mexico City... It's one thing to take on Conservatives -- after all they happen to be the government but qu...
• Zachary, I'm not blaming anyone. I'm simply saying that when one national government is pissed off at the actions of another (which by the way in our case...
• Zachary, Now it's my turn to be on battery power. Hence, the delay in replying. In my view, as a non-constitutional lawyer, the Constitutional law of Canad...
• Zachary, There have to be serious legal consequences for individuals representing any and all parties that are given unredacted access to, for example, Cana...
• Zachary, Nice try. This Prime Minister has a negative approval of 48%. He heads the government, right? Michael's negative is at 45% but he still has DOUBLE ...
• Zachary, What does that say about the quality of intelligence gathering and political oversight of both DND and FA when government policy and subsequent rea...
• Hey Stratford Guys, You've both done an outstanding job but there comes a time in everyone's life where it becomes high time to pass the mantle on to the ne...
• Zachary, Then perhaps you will agree with me that it is better to bend into the wind than to stubbornly hold out for 100% of what one wants -- AND BREAK...
• Zachary, In a strict legal sense, you are, of course, correct. The Senate and The House of Commons constitute the will of Parliament along with the famously...
• One more point: with the House of Commons being the only duly elected chamber representing popular sovereignty, one can extrapolate from that fact that it i...
• But Zachary, were we to form a political cartel for mutual benefit, wouldn't we be quickly broken up by the Anti-combines branch?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! S...
• Scraping Off The Egg! I want to extend my apologies to Progressive Conservative Senator Michael A. Meighen who I omitted in a post a while back on resorting...
• Zachary, With respect, I admire your proof of flexibility but what you suggest is a sure recipe for an election: Jack and Gilles will never go for that. The...
• Well, it says that The Globe and Mail on at least one particular issue had a better handle on matters than the Canadian government. That is quite simply asto...
• Zachary, That can't and will never happen. It would violate clearly entrenched constitutional convention. Just think back to patriation and the role constit...
• And that is why we have long been in agreement that a SCC reference can only work to the political advantage of this government. Nothing new there.
• You are correct. It seems the reference to the national numbers in that post was not related to the latest Ekos poll. Serves me right for not doing a check b...
• Zachary, A preliminary fair comment: someone is at least feeling some heat. Now to the poll itself: it may be a rogue poll or it may be the start of Conser...
• Zachary, There is big downside waiting for Michael -- you've seen the polls. Liberals can't afford to strike a unilateral deal with this government when the...
• Zachary, The party that develops an efficient thaw mechanism gets to form government. I'll bet you can relate to that. As much as I admire Jack, he can for...
• Way To Go Michael! Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has publicly endorsed the notion that Governor General Michaëlle Jean's term should be extended. He join...
• Zachary, Careful, you sound like you're about to make a politically fatal mistake! I sense overconfidence building -- and remember that is a weakness rather...
• Zachary, You sound like this is a siege mentality. And if it is (against this government) and I'm not prepared at this juncture to say that it is -- then lo...
• Cameron Is Getting Nasty: Is That Really Smart When Your Numbers Are Rising? As reported by Reuters: British polls marred by mudslinging Brown, Cameron ge...
• Zachary, This Prime Minister amazes me: on the one hand, he doesn't want an all-party agreement on Afghan documents -- he wants a Conservative-Liberal coali...
• Zachary, Well, to paraphrase a classic: It's your party's funeral, and you can cry if you want to. Cry if you want to... You know how well it went w...
• Zachary, You sound like a Conservative looking frantically for any "excuse", legitimate or otherwise, not to reach an all-party agreement. Now that's what...
• Zachary, We'll see just how "weak" we are when the three parties line up to hit this one right out of the park.
• Zachary, Put down the marker or else prepare to be smeared in black ink!!!
• Zachary, Wow! What a revelation: spending all day looking at ink blots. Personally, I prefer watching grass grow...
• Zachary, You aren't gloating before the fact are you? You know me. I'm sticking to my guns and will ride my prediction in whatever direction it goes. ...
• Zachary, Then it should come as quite a shock, shouldn't it.
• Zachary, Remember how the clowns are known for firing off cannons...
• Zachary, Didn't you get the clowns' memo? What goes down, can quickly go up. And what is up -- well, somewhat up, can suddenly go south. Just watch. Yo...
• Centennial of the Canadian Navy! Minus the participation of the Commander-in-Chief of Canada... What gives?
• Zachary, Wow. And all this time I thought we were all under the impression that this Prime Minister was nothing more forceful than a big pussycat!
• Zachary, Here's the new approach I'll soon be "recommending": put in an order for a batch of harps. Next, get your hot little hands on a hymn book, pronto. ...
• Zachary, All I can say is that if she was, Michael would consider it an honour to be in her presence, as would many other Canadians, including yours truly.
• Zachary, Don't forget Tuesday's game!
• Zachary, As you know, I wasn't quite up to these gentlemen's level. Obviously!
• Zachary, I guess that means this Prime Minister is planning to come across. Good judgment on his part.
• Thanks. If it's a go, it will likely push the next election to the fall.
• Zachary, Here is the Live BBC News page. Things get underway in less than two hours! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/default.stm
• last part is: default.stm
• Zachary, No. Drowning in surplus work. But thanks for the heads up. Will check it out later. For now, work continues as I watch (and mostly listen) to ...

No Post Budget Bounce for Tories (Nanos Poll Completed March 12th 2010) (2010-03-16)

• QCG, I won't rehash all our internal Liberal shit again. But I will state what I said recently: much will depend on what comes out of the Montreal Confere...
• Guys, The higher the undecided, the more it's self-evident that the parties are not doing their work properly to bring these people over. Are we going to ...
• Zachary, That's the wonderful thing about being leader: you get to decide things, to take positions, come up with masterful tactics or make errors in judg...
• Heasmit, Unlike your husband, perhaps you're unaware that I left the Conservative Party because of their previous attempt at eliminating the taxpayer subsid...
• Thanks Allan! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I happen to really be that full of myself and presumptuous to reprise my list of future federal party leaders. In l...
• Tom, Excellent analysis. This government's majority if it happens (and I seriously doubt that it will - after four years and counting it should have happe...
• Zachary, Let's cut through the bull...your numbers are shit and so are ours! Yes, ours are worse than yours but we aren't the sitting government. Zachary,...
• Bernie, Brad Wall is the only other premier with roses at his feet!
• Zachary, If this government is eventually re-elected, Conservatives will make a monkey out of me. If not,...!!!
• Hey Zachary, I'm rather disappointed. I was sure you would want to weigh in on the next leader for each of the federal parties. I find it strange that you...
• Remember Zachary, how many times have you already told us that the next Liberal leader is Bob Rae. I hope your talents at prognostication are better than tha...
• Zachary, Thanks. Look forward to your input after lunch. (See you around two o'clock.)
• Tom, As you say, the proof will be in the pudding -- and particularly in the eating! The MC is regarded as a non-partisan event, even though many of th...
• Heasmit, I won't repeat myself but it's entirely possible that several parties stuffed the pipeline full of 10-percenters ahead of the "deadline", were it...
• Zachary, You neglected to give us your views on the future CONSERVATIVE leadership race and its possible contestants. Presume you are planning to post a s...
• Zachary, Impressive analysis, thank you. Here's my take on it: CPC: In the race besides Solberg, I expect to see Prentice for sure. Moore is interes...
• Zachary, One more thing and you'll think I'M CRAZY for saying it but here it goes: Stock has been the most solid minister in cabinet. He has really had hi...
• Zachary, In French we have a saying: mon homme de confiance. That fits Stock to a tee and it shows how much confidence this Prime Minister has in him in s...
• Zachary, Well said. Here's my view on Lord and why I wouldn't put him in the same category as Solberg: I think it's legitimate to say that things did not ...
• Zachary, Let's call this the conventional wisdom -- and it may very well turn out to be correct.
• Zachary, MacKay is another interesting case study: so burned by the MacKay-Orchard agreement prior to the merger, it was no surprise when he chose not to ...
• Tom, I'm with you except for cabinet solidarity -- that is essential in any government. Michael Chong is a case in point: when he adamently did not agree ...
• Zachary, With Harper, agreed unless he loses. Then he goes even more quickly (within a month or so); With Ignatieff, again, not being wild about Donolo...
• Zachary, Until we entered stalemate alley (how long has it been?), I was prepared to put my money on the inevitability of a clear and DECISIVE win. That w...
• Zachary, With respect, I wonder. We both know that the law and order crowd sees much of this as toughness (in the Canadian context), standing firm in spit...
• Zachary, What would be the point of Montreal were we intent on a rehash? I can live with it on the margins, and I do mean margins, but to go with same old...
• Careful Zachary, you are misinterpreting my position: the Liberals WILL hold the smoking gun for the period from 2001-2005 -- no ifs, ands or buts about it. ...
• Zachary, Fair enough but again, we aren't that stupid.
• Tom, Too many prime ministers and other leaders confuse the message with the messenger. I agree with you but some MPs are known for their controversial fr...
• Zachary, I would call it a step forward in the right direction but I also agree with you that it will serve little purpose to bombard constitutents in so-...
• Zachary, You remember my argument in favour of Liberal Privy Councillors presently sitting in the House of Commons. I still think a lot of grief could hav...
• Zachary, I expect this goverment to go by way of reference to the Supreme Court of Canada. And we both know how that is likely to end up: national securit...
• Abortion: The Issue That Will Sting This Prime Minister. Here we go again...the pattern continues with one significant step forward in favour of women's a...
• Zachary, To my mind, that area is far more dicey for this government. I seriously doubt that the court would want to intervene in what transpires inside t...
• Zachary, I agree with Spector and you that national security matters, in the narrow sense, in its strictest constructs, are not questions that can be exam...
• Zachary, Think out of the box Zachary. If this is really a go, add Broadbent and swear him into the Privy Council (if he is not already a member) and pron...
• Zachary, Doer is a no-go. Already has a big job and by taking it, is officially tied to this government.
• Zachary, I think you made that "crystal clear", as Nixon used to say...
• But Zachary, in this narrow instance, is it really the role of the SCC? Does the bench really want to stoop so low (sorry but that's the reality) as to poli...
• Zachary, We Liberals are many things -- sometimes extremely slow on the uptake but we aren't brain dead, no matter what The Globe and Mail thinks...this Pri...
• QCG, I don't want to overgeneralize (remember I came from there) but there is a small element who really think that way. But that's not most Conservatives. ...
• Bernie, Forgive me for throwing religion into the mix but here it goes: when I think of matters of conscience, Sir Thomas More comes to mind. He died becaus...
• QCG, Someone must be looking fondly back on the time when all he really had to worry about was successfully piloting the Alliance ship...
• Zachary, Well and truly covered previously -- and much appreciated! Your frank views made for a very interesting (and even highly enjoyable) exchange of opi...
• Go, Nancy, Go! 3:30 P.M. (Eastern) is the magic hour. The first vote will be on health care itself. Then will come two budget votes (one of which will inclu...
• QCG, My cousins in Florida are right-wing Conservatives. They don't like Obama and should be chewing on nails by around 4, 4:30!
• Bernie, I think your idea works when dealing with MPs who put representative government first. That's about 2 MPs...remember how very few floor crossers, if...
• Zachary, Please read my post again. Quite obviously, you didn't get it right the first time.
• QCG, My brother Dan marched in the parade carrying the O'Dowd banner. For that reason, my mother and I decided to go -- we arrived prior to the start only t...
• Can A Deal Get Done On Afghan Detainees? All political Ottawa is buzzing wondering if a deal can be done on the release of documents pertaining to alleged t...
• Guys, Even over-the-top rhetorical flourishes by Gilles Duceppe or anyone else -- will not get Quebec any closer to sovereignty. Fifty years and counting an...
• QCG, You more than anyone else knows that politics is the art of the possible. We're on a roll with 10-percenters as the big winners. If we give a little, w...
• QCG, Don't want to burst your bubble but I supported both Meech and Charlottetown. You won't find that surprising coming from a former Progressive Conservat...
• QCG, It's nice to have this Prime Minister in Vancouver tending to other business. Although the guy is known for multi-tasking, personally I like it best wh...
• QCG, Are you like me? Can you just smell the Prorogation II smoking gun? I want a deal so we can get through the paperwork, particularly post 2007 when the ...
• QCG, I found out this morning that the city forced the organizers to move up the starting time to 11:00 A.M. because of the Red Bull Crushed Ice race. ...
• Zachary, Most of the pro-lifers are not in fact Liberals. They are Conservative Democrats including southern Blue Dogs, but not limited to them. They come...
• Zachary, The Bloc is both panicked and desperate. Hence, the stupidity of the remarks. As for the Liberals, we like to let cooler heads prevail. We do ...
• Zachary, I'm on deadline so I'll make this quick. First, the Bloc is desperate as regards sovereignty only -- we both know that they remain at the top of ...
• Zachary, If the Lord himself came down and declared himself pro-life, that would have only a certain effect on voters. Canadians by a considerable margin ...
• Zachary, I'm vague this morning. Please refresh my memory. Are we talking about Ipsos-Reid (?) for Global National? Thanks.
• Zachary, Let's put it this way. That's not even remotely how I would have worded the motion. Far too political and the strident tone...seesh.
• Zachary, About to leave for dinner so have a moment to squeeze you in! (no offense intended). Most assuredly, I read all your posts and comment regularly ...
• Zachary, Frankly, Duceppe's performance is nothing more than a cheap theatrical sideshow -- some Conservatives may think they can use it as a pretext -- o...
• Zachary, To a degree they may but remember this: our Prime Minister and his party love this country just as much as the rest of us federalists. The PM wil...
• Zachary, I don't go for that type of association and neither does my leader, especially when he is compared to Bush...
• Zachary, Let see, truthful MPs -- isn't that a non sequitur!? Please. Neither of us fell off the turnip truck yesterday...
• Zachary, I won't bet a dime on what Milliken might do. To my mind, it really is up in the air. I doubt Michael has any clue either.
• Zachary, We may be offended when we hear it but we did not mean to offend when we ourselves posted. Is that not correct? My Nixon item was merely meant to...
• Zachary, I always say in politics, go with your best card -- but remember Zachary, this ain't exactly an ace -- at least not from my biased perspective...
• Le club des ex sur RDI. I watch this every noon hour on weekdays -- you should have seen the sparks fly today regarding Gilles Duceppe's remarks! Fortunat...
• Zachary, Quite obviously, strongly held. But come on Zachary, this Prime Minister will never let it get that far -- no PM will allow for a contempt of Par...
• Zachary, It was good but don't have time to go into it. But like your favourite wine, it will get even better with age -- around 12:30 P.M. tomorrow!
• Zachary, The following is blunt, probably more blunt than ever before but it's neither meant as a putdown or an insult. If you don't believe me, just take...
• Today's Helpful Hint! Get real and make the deal.
• Zachary, If you like humour, you'll absolutely "love" this: You write: "Not a chance, with the Liberals, NDP and Bloc acting in that manner and as Cana...
• Zachary, My guess: no, and no.
• Zachary, I never thought you would underestimate the resilency of Canada -- remember, we are the only major economic power, to my knowledge, who has never...
• Zachary, If this Prime Minister finds the ongoing so-called political "shenanigans" unacceptable, let him put his money where his mouth is and ask for a d...
• Extraordinary Caucus Meeting. Something tells me we aren't moving toward a deal...
• Zachary, Right. Tell me another one.

Budget Unlikely to Significantly Impact Currrent National Political Situation (Nanos/Policy Options Poll) (2010-03-15)

• Tom, When I was still a Conservative, I suggested in an e-mail to the PMO that the Council of the Federation should become an official federal body with t...
• Bernie, Rember the 11th Commandment: He that raiseth taxes does not get re-elected!! It's as simple as that...
• QCG, Thanks for the update. I look forward to see what comes out of the non-partisan thinkers in Montreal. Thinking out of the box is what will propel us ba...
• Tom, I don't hold out much hope for my suggestion: we both know how the Prime Minister has to hold sway over...! I doubt he can do that either consistently ...
• QCG, And Jean Charest was seen by many as not having much of a chance should he actually have any such intentions...but his odds would likely be excellent c...
• Democratic Reform And Renewal Of Our Parliamentary Institutions. Canadians would be far better off if our archaic parliamentary system was brought into the ...
• Lieberal Brand, With a handle like that, you start right off the bat with a considerable disadvantage -- you immediately strike us as a Conservative on the ...
• Lieberal Brand, How can you be so sure? Unless you happen to have spies in the other parties...oh excuse me, perish the thought.
• Lieberal Brand, If O'Dowd was rich would he actually be doing THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I must really love ...
• Why Helena Guergis Is Going Nowhere. I've stopped keeping track of how many Conservative cabinet ministers I've argued in the past should be replaced. Somet...
• Bernie, I understand your argument but I doubt that in this area that a business perspective can do any harm with regard to reforming our institutions.
• Zachary, Put another way which will undoubtedly make you smile, he may not know it quite yet but Bob Fife is about to eat them words spoken last night on ...
• Zachary, It's also my impression that under Martin that there wasn't enough time for substance -- only show was put into motion, avant le déluge.
• Not To Be A Hypocrite...Here's The Deal: I Caved. Just got a call from a Quebec Liberal Party volunteer asking me to renew my membership. Told the gentlem...
• Zachary, In this as in all things: context, perspective, and especially nuance -- remember whose actions ALLEGEDLY flushed AIG down the can barely avoidin...
• Zachary, Quoting Conservative sources, he said rather unequivocally that Guergis will not be in cabinet for much longer. I think he said something about a...
• Zachary, I get your point and it makes sense if we look at this politically. But I prefer another tact, I want more seats out West to reflect the populati...
• Zachary, I guess this means that the Prime Minister is really an "old softie". I hope word doesn't leak out -- I wouldn't want the Conservatives to earn t...
• LOL. But remember Zachary, this Prime Minister EARNED IT by failing Media Tactics 101 just like Trudeau, Mulroney and Chrétien did before him.
• Zachary, I notice that you don't have Pablo on the list in Honoré-Mercier. Interesting. However, a couple of ridings are repeated twice.
• Zachary, I tossed it in because his margin went up substantially last time but was more neck and neck in 2006 (if memory serves). Quite obviously, whateve...
• Zachary, My only prediction is that André Arthur is likely to be beaten in Portneuf whether or not the CPC follows its previous strategy and does not run ...

Anxiety about Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan (Nanos Policy Options Poll) (2010-03-01)

• What Worry About The CPP... Come on folks, chill. Don't be a bunch of nervous Nellies as Chrétien used to say. The CPP is in as good a shape as your avera...
• Dear Industry Canada, I'm still waiting for a reply to my letter, sent to the Minister's Office. An update in short order might be a good idea. Thanks. ...
• Zachary, At least now we know who is the only guy in Canada who hasn't (yet?) seen the light. Here's a friendly piece of advice: in your case, please keep c...
• Zachary, I'm sure you'll agree with me that an acknowledgment of the problem which I've raised is hardly too much to ask for in the way of a response. Must ...
• It's Called Leadership. Quite evidently, in light of yesterday's events in Ottawa, this concept has escaped the upper ranks of both the Liberal and New De...
• Bernie, Thanks for your input. Your take on things is very interesting. But respectfully, I have to disagree with your assessment of the New Democrats. Ja...
• Zachary, I agree with you that to win leadership, you have to show 'em what you're made of and more importantly, where you want to take 'em...the Michael ...
• Zachary, I, too wish Jack only the best but to my mind, and I could be wrong, there is really no problem here: if Jack has to take a pass in the next camp...
• Zachary, I'm all for subtle niceties on an ordinary government bill -- but to choose to token vote against the budget is nothing short of sheer folly. It ...
• Bernie, Thanks for setting me straight. I think politicians badly need to lead but like you, I don't think Canadians have to resort to being sheep either.
• Zachary, I agree that a coronation is not the way to go. What I was suggesting was merely an exercise to temporaily fill the leadership void should Jack b...
• Zachary, Perhaps the same thing will happen again when we get to the fall!
• Time To Outflank The Flanker! This Prime Minister is prouder than a peacock -- he believes that he has finally found containment on the Afghan detainee is...
• Zachary, Why the hell not! But to do so, I have to introduce a point first: Point O) - Do you really expect me to believe that the master tactician would h...
• Prominent Female Symbols: Opaque In Ottawa Under Harper. O Canada, our home and native land...ah forget it, that's one just didn't do the trick. What to do ...
• Zachary, Moving straight to Point 3) - I'm not so hopelessly partisan that I can't speak tactically for the "enemy": time to get real here -- of course, thi...
• Zachary, You don't seem to think that pushing this will have any legs. I beg to differ. I guess we'll both have to wait and see how it plays out with Canadi...
• Zachary, We all go somewhat bonkers when we have serious personal problems. That's my position on it, as you know. This was not a case of ministerial ...
• Zachary, Persichilli misses the point. It's FAR from a given that we would lose. Remember, if we are consistently five or less points behind, we can more ...
• Donald, This Prime Minister wants a full public inquiry. Why? Because he thinks back to a case in point -- remember when Mulroney was going to be there "w...
• Oops, that should read collateral. Sorry.
• Zachary, As a FYI, I'm for changes via a parliamentary committee (preferably Heritage) but not in favour of going back to archaic wording.
• Donald, First, let me get it immediately on the record that Chrétien was dead wrong to shut down the Somalia Inquiry. Sure, the regiment was disbanded but...
• Zachary, Ain't politics a gas sometimes! Better than an episode of the late As the World Turns...
• Zachary, You must never say never. But agreed, it's highly unlikely as the chess pieces presently stand on the board.
• Donald, 1) If ministerial responsibility is applicable definitely but as we both know in practice, that seldom happens. But a young man died so it should ...
• Agreed. No upside for Michael but less downside.
• Zachary, I don't know if it will play out that way: remember that Dr. Johnston was given the mandate to determine the terms of reference re: the Mulroney ...
• Zachary, The interesting point for this government will be the following: this Prime Minister and Defence Minister saw that the previous Liberal governmen...
• Zachary, One can never be ENTIRELY sure of what happened on one's own watch. There are simply too many actors, too many variables. Screwups happen -- even...
• Zachary, Perfect questions for a full public inquiry. My sense of it based on intuition only is that one government would never give a heads up to an inco...
• Zachary, Thanks. As discussed previously, I think we both agree that legitimate (and there's the rub!) national security considerations always trump parli...
• Afghan Detainees: Expect The Public Inquiry Announcement Within Days. Quite frankly, I'm shocked to see how quickly this situation is spiraling out of contr...
• As Proud As Can Be! I have to say that I was mightily impressed as I watched coverage of the Governor General's visit to Haiti. The GG put on a brave fron...
• Zachary, A tactical response if ever I read one! One hell of a potentially interesting deflection should the PM pick it up.
• Zachary, Respectfully, IMHO, it's more of a quicksand ballet. Remember, Harper got in the first time with 36%. If I was in the Prime Minister's shoes, the...
• Zachary, A tactical suggestion of my own: perhaps she can be persuaded to sit as a Conservative senator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Zachary, Actually, no. Here's the way I would push the Liberal strategy: take it as a given that the Martin and Chrétien governments will take a hit (espe...
• Zachary, You have a fine mind, one that is adept at grasping the obvious. Better stop here.
• Zachary, Agree with you that only two parties can form government. Once that premise is taken care of, do we both agree that they can't both continue to d...
• Zachary, This thing could break either way -- in favour of the opposition or the government. That's what will keep it exciting but I have to admit that yo...
• Not you! Have a nice lunch, I know I will.
• Zachary, I have no quarrel with any government being held accountable for their respective roles. That's fair game in my book. As a result, the plot will co...
• Zachary, As the other shoe drops, most credible media outlets will have no choice but to report it otherwise they can't pretend that their reporting is bo...
• Zachary, I remain confident that the Prime Minister will go with a full-fledged public inquiry. Especially, now that Liberal-affecting "leaks" are likely ...
• Zachary, The more this thing explodes out in the open, the happier I'll be. Time for a good clear out. Again, it's time for all governments to finally own...
• Zachary, Please think out of the box on this one! Everything is relative as to how Canada will conduct its defence and foreign policy from this point forw...
• Think about it Zachary: some "players": a sovereignist party that can make hay but will gain little to nothing on the ground in Quebec. At best a wash for th...
• What A Joke: Ottawa True To Form Once Again. And then they wonder why politicians are considered by many people as nothing more than laughing stocks...I g...
• A Personal Note For The Prime Minister. Dear Stephen, I want to applaud you for going where no prime minister has gone before and agreeing to stream yo...
• Bernie, I doubt most of his constituents favour the commercial seal hunt but I could be wrong. Another thing Bernie, when was the last time that a senator...
• Here We Go Again... I think that Nanos readers are doing a tremendous disservice to our political parties by not speaking truth to power, be it on the gov...
• Zachary, Of course, my comments aren't directed at you. Sorry if you thought otherwise. But let's face it, a lot of people would rather like to see the bi...
• Zachary, The only thing waiting for me in Ottawa is a right cross...I think that just about sums up things nicely.
• Bernie, Sorry, my comments were meant for you either. I should have factored in the "regulars" on this blog before framing my argument.
• Bernie, Oh God. What a long week -- that should read weren't meant for you...
• Zachary, Quite frankly, until the platform is up and running, the best that can be done perception-wise is tinkering on the margins -- but that is not my ...
• Zachary, Think of what this Prime Minister would have done under such a scenario: pulled the rug right out from under the "interim" Liberal leader and gon...
• Zachary, Why don't we ask him on YouTube next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Zachary, One more point: anyone who knows anything about John Manley knows that he plays to win. The guy won't run a leadership campaign that can be nothi...
• Zachary, If we hadn't made a mistake or two, we'd be in government as we speak. I think that just about sums it up...
• Zachary, Next time you start thinking of a whopper -- forget hamburgers and think back to the LPC post 2006...
• Bernie, All I can say is that now that I'm slowly winding down my political involvement for the second time in a row (in the second federal political party)...
• Zachary, Thanks. I'm off to take a look. If it really strikes my fancy, I will comment on it.
• Zachary, Having come from the Progressive Conservatives, one of the first things I noticed after the merger was that the Alliance members were not, by and l...
• QCG, Too bad this Prime Minister doesn't favour an extremely prudent and wise political "double standard" -- you might have an idea what I mean: one tight-f...
• QCG, You know how it is in politics -- with the heart going one way and the gut another. The heart is hoping against hope that I'm full of shit but the gut ...
• Whistling In The Wind: The Martin and Harper Way! Canadians may be surprised to discover that the Liberals of yesterday along with the Conservatives of toda...
• And I Thought Hockey Was The Favourite Sport Of The Harper Government. I'm confused. (Some will say this is hardly the first time but I digress.) After all ...
• QCG, The House can only do so much. Most of the time, the executive does nothing more than collectively yawn -- and that is a major mistake on their part. I...
• Zachary, That is possible but we will never know will we. The point here is that fighters fight. They make things happen even under difficult circumstances....
• Zachary, This post really amuses me. You fault the Liberals for not inquiring from 2002-06 but you're not about to say the same thing about a full blown inq...
• Zachary, They may give one game ball to the Liberals but another one will also be bestowed upon the Conservatives. Each party will bear responsibility for w...
• Zachary, Come on. I have many playmates across party lines. That's why we're so good together!
• Zachary, It has been my experience that Conservatives like to get their damage in early. For some strange reason, Liberals also prefer to follow that same c...
• Zachary, I know next to nothing about criminal law but I do know which level of government is in charge of prosecution of alleged offenders. If the public d...
• Zachary, Are you deliberately twisting my meaning or do you truly not understand what I meant. Let's try again shall we? When I said it (the explanation) ...
• Zachary, Ha! Ha! Yes, your position is perfectly reasonable as long as no further allegations of torture come out on the Conservative watch. Correct me if...
• Zachary, Why would I mention the Syrians? Everyone agrees that rendition took place while Martin was in office. Why bother stating the obvious.
• Zachary, Understood.
• Zachary, It's a Monday...I thought I would make your day by telling you that one of my brothers has fallen in love with the Conservatives -- all over agai...
• Zachary, Pretty sure this wasn't Donolo's idea. (Never thought I'd actually say that!)
• Zachary, Thank you. And by sticking to said principles Ottawa should be giving me a wide berth for say, the next twenty years! First, the CPC, now the LPC...
• Dear Party Leaders, Now, perk up your ears! I'm only going to offer this free advice ONCE -- are you ready? "THINK, TWICE." No need to thank me. It ...
• Zachary, Something is funny here. At first blush one would think that the Conservative government may be in the clear post 2006. But then comes the rub...

Canadians believe PMO has too much power, House of Commons not enough power (Nanos Poll Completed February 8) (2010-02-24)

• Hi Tom, Just call me a "mini" Douglas (guts personified) Harkness (one of my political heroes)! George Hees and Pierre Sévigny are perfect examples of how t...
• Tom, With the deepest respect for the views outlined in your excellent post, I cannot agree with your position on the Supreme Court of Canada. Unfortunately...
• Zachary, Come on. Do you actually believe that Canadians will use crime issues as their litmus test in determining which party to support in the next electi...
• Donald, Any good general knows what to do: you take the war to the enemy and you don't particularly care what you have to do to win it. It's not important h...
• Zachary, I haven't changed since May. I was for an election in May and am even more in favour now. But I don't get to decide. I like the upcoming political ...
• Zachary, Does it not strike you as passing strange that the leader of the party that happens to form Canada's present government commands only the support o...
• Zachary, Resorting to partisan insults...check my post again. You won't find any smears there. A helpful lesson for you. No need to thank me.
• Hollinm, Agreed. God knows I'm living proof that this Prime Minister is many things, but first a democrat.
• Donald, Please don't pretend that General Harper is not of the same mind as Generals Ignatieff, Layton, Duceppe or May. This isn't tiddlywinks. You know i...
• Hollinm, All opposition leaders are strongly in favour of virtue. All Prime Ministers can't wait to get down and dirty and do the deed. Once they're in, the...
• Zachary, Please tell you Dad that that script has been used before. And it wasn't that effective the first time. You don't have to like how I call them. Di...
• Tom, Well, sometimes Charest goes overboard (as in his recent remarks) but at least he knows how to kick federal ass when it becomes both obvious and NECESS...
• Donald, I will agree with you on Harper IF he manages to pull off at least one majority. Until then, forget it. Governance is, in and of itself neither bad...
• Tom, Again, can't agree. Please answer this one for me: are you suggesting (and perhaps you are not) that when the SCC declares a statute ultra vires (uncon...
• Zachary, Do I think Charest will be forced to soften to California standards? Yes I do. Do I expect the U.S. and Canadian governments to adopt the Californi...
• Zachary, Strange that you would consider it a pissing contest. I consider it legitimate reasonably civil debate. But if you're not up for it, that's fine. S...
• They Remembered To Pass Harper The ASA. Nice to see the Prime Minister in Vancouver again encouraging our athletes...from what I can tell, there is no major...
• Zachary, In essence, what you are suggesting is that given the polling map at the moment, momentum lies with the Conservatives going into the next campaign....
• Zachary, Nice line!
• Zachary, That's more than fair. With present polling and momentum, I don't see it in the cards as the situation now stands in February.
• Zachary, I find that link rather tenuous but all I can say to Westerners is, whatever floats your boat. We in Quebec know how to play the game domestically ...
• Zachary, You misunderstand me. As a citizen, Stephen Harper is MY Prime Minister having formed MY Canadian federal government. HE IS the head of government,...
• Zachary, This would be my advice to the Prime Minister: whenever we have an election, if Harper gets in again with another minority, he becomes by default, ...
• Hollinm, Sorry for the delay in replying but I was watching the PM on CTV and WE AGREE that Canada will win tonight!!!!!!!! (I suppose there is a first time...
• Zachary, What a crock of shit! Nice try though. P.S. Just so you know, I was across the table from Bob on Thursday. You really kill me -- being able to pr...
• Donald, He loses effective control under a third minority mandate. That will be the nature of the beast. He will, for all intents and purposes, have little ...
• The Budget: Stay Tuned For "Uncle Scrooge" Government. I don't know about you but nothing warms this SOB's heart as much as the pending unraveling of the Ha...
• Zachary, How damned considerate of you. Remember Zachary, the biggest casualties are likely to be the "givens" in politics. Worth considering, don't you think?
• Zachary, Let's take this one up again after Montreal, assuming that we actually have an opportunity to get there. You know this Prime Minister. No person ca...
• Zachary, Will be signing off now. Going to plunge through a few chapters of Game Change. Enjoying it immensely (almost as much as each of us sticking it to ...
• Zachary, We both know it was a trade off to get the provinces to swallow the Charter. Trudeau would probably have preferred to spend a year at the dentist b...
• Zachary, For a party with "no air in [our] tires", funny that we've managed to make it fifteen (15) points past our low point!
• Zachary, The authors are John Heilemann and Mark Halperin and it's an absolute must for any self-respecting U.S. political junkie.
• Zachary, So now we are adding a little red herring to those red mittens...look, let's speak plainly -- the court is not there to decide in the place of Cana...
• Tom, But does not the SCC's interpretation amount to some form of judicial activism? I think so, but I could be wrong.
• Zachary, Will you at least agree that it's fair to speculate that post-Montreal, once part of the future platform is in place, that that will have some posi...
• Zachary, Judicial activism must be done responsibly. It should be an exceptional measure dealing with a pressing or urgent national concern. At least, that ...
• Zachary, And when Parliament errs in law and fails to address it in a timely manner?
• Zachary, Good thing Stockwell wasn't on the Niagara River at the time or it might likely have turned out a hell of a lot worse. (I just couldn't resist that...
• Tom, I would suggest that we have no abortion law in Canada precisely because of the Supreme Court's intervention. Without it...? To my mind, that was an ac...
• Bernie, I will be about as candid as possible with you. I want as big a hook as possible to get at the Harper government. I don't care where I find it. If i...
• Zachary, If you guys are so fired up about Liberal-appointed judges, please be my guest and dissolve Parliament. Run on it as part of your law and order pro...
• Zachary, You are wrong there. If the Pink Poka Dot Party was the government and deliberately abdicating its responsibilities on important national priorites...
• Zachary, Agree on rigorous costing and also that no party can afford to go hog wild. Present economic realities will bite any party in the ass that foolishl...
• Zachary, No doubt the head of state's next rep is in complete agreement with you. (I couldn't resist that one either.)
• Hollinm, As a former journalist, I can say that I've never yet met a journalist incapable of thinking. What does that mean? It means no one who is even mild...
• Zachary, I don't know Zachary. I could live with term limits but you know how the government feels about subsidies. I certainly don't want justices trolling...
• Zachary, NOPE. Martin gets to wear it but so does Harper post 2006. You may not have noticed but four years have gone by without him being repatriated to Ca...
• Zachary, Right now, this PM pulls the string and that's fine by me. He leads the government and has a perfect right to fill the vacancies. Ditto for Senate ...
• Come on, please. The court did not pronounce itself on repatriation. It merely stated that Khadr's Charter rights were violated and asked the government to t...
• Zachary, How did I know ahead of time that you would widely skate around this one (how's that for an Olympic metaphor)??!! Enjoy the game. This may be the ...
• Zachary, Let me know after the game and my subsequent shopping trip for groceries and I'll be pleased to oblige. Later.
• Hollinm, With respect, that is too wide a generalization. When the politicians and those of us who work to advance their respective causes get down in the...
• Zachary, No doubt the OLO will have more to say on this shortly.
• Yes Zachary, from what I've been told, your impression appears to be bang on. But that's as far as I can go at this time.
• Zachary, The one who should not be named is she. There is no he. The joke relates to the he but otherwise, he is not involved. Is that OK?
• Hollinm, On Helena, my view is compassion has to be the order of the day. We've all had difficult moments in our own personal lives and that should be rem...
• Hollinm, No offense taken. I hate crap like that whether it favours my party, the Conservatives or any other party. Only an idiot would say x votes y beca...
• Donald, Do you really have to be at the game or even watch it on television to clearly establish your bona fides as a red-blooded Canadian? I think Conser...
• Donald, All things considered, our federal parties will be waiting for the next batch of polls with baited breath -- and in this case, I would hardly call...
• Zachary, You sure seem to be busy being both judge and jury. But remember that you're pretty much wasting your time: this government won't agree to repatria...
• Zachary, Too bad we aren't talking about Scots Law: if there was ever a case of "not proved", this is it... From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "...

Canadians split on impression of political groups on Facebook; many uncertain (Nanos Poll Completed February 8) (2010-02-18)

• Branchez-vous, maudits électeurs. That just about sums up my feelings. What the hell is going on? When you look at Ekos and see for the past month and a h...
• Zachary, Interesting breakdown. Thanks. I will go out on a limb and venture a guess that we're in for a protracted period of good old fashioned World War ...
• Quebec Francophones: Still Uncertain As To Which Way To Go. Former Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard is widely known for a number of things -- some more flatte...
• Consertative Supporter, I'll say one thing for you: you're still a pistol! We both know that French is the eighth language in Vancouver. That being said, we...
• Novadog, Are you with me? I happen to love and respect the Americans. I just don't care to become one of them. When the United States is at its finest, no o...
• Consertative Supporter, Remember, I live where Canadian history was decided. The English (as they then were) won on the Plains of Abraham but lost TWICE to ...
• Consertative Supporter, You would deny this Prime Minister, the guy who got the West "in" the beginnings of his Triple-E-Senate? Harper is intent on embark...
• Consertative Supporter, If you're to apply that standard to the Senate, you also have to apply it to the House of Commons -- not to mention the BC and other...
• Consertative Supporter, We sure agree on Latin America. I'm looking at the new ETF but I haven't bought so far. My best stock is Tag Oil: 500% profit, so...

Nanos Leadership Index: Harper still strong (Nanos Poll Completed February 8th, 2010) (2010-02-15)

• dgkfghlgjkgla, Wow! What a handle. Remember, the leadership index in the final analysis is meaningless. Just think back to 2006 when the Conservatives wer...
• Zachary Smith, I think none of the leaders is sufficiently trusted to win an election under this matrix. I could be wrong but I would also suggest that Jo...
• "Going" Conservative... To pull, or not to pull, that is the Conservative question! I'll bet you dollars to donuts that the next two polls will be instrum...
• Zachary Smith, Now there's the rub in being the opposition: by necessity, you have to come up with a platform -- you can start slowly and cost; or you can...
• Zachary Smith, Once an olive branch is proffered, it's often in one's own interest to take hold of it. This government sees things differently. It will be...
• I would remind readers that we remain in a two-year cycle whose main theme continues to be "Making Parliament Work" -- that was the message delivered by the ...
• Zachary, With respect, I admire your suggestions but the PMO is control-freak central. That is not this Prime Minister's fault alone. It goes all the way ba...
• Zachary, Agreed that if the Environics poll is a "one-only", we are indeed in the middle of a political stalemate. I suspect that is not the case but we wil...
• Hollinm, Why am I not surprised to hear that your ads are ready to go. Conservatives are many things -- including always organized for battle! You give me...
• Hollinm, No, amending the constitution is nothing but a can of worms. Besides, we have 13 solitudes in Canada -- not just 2...we have to integrate Quebec bu...
• Hollinm, Nice to meet the only and last person in Canada who happens to think that global warming science is a hoax. You don't know how I hope this Prime Mi...
• Zachary, It has been my experience that people looking for an excuse somehow always manage to find one. Others do just as well finding a pretext...
• Zachary, Yes, one of us is!
• If you aren't already, you would make a fine strategist. You have a very impressive logical mind.
• Hollinm, That was supposed to be a tennis analogy. Oops, as I turn shades of red!
• Hollinm, I have to disagree. In the final analysis, it is rather immaterial what both parties want. What is relevant is what Canadians want -- how far are...
• Hollinm, That's the nice thing about a coin toss -- it either goes for you or against you...nothing like a good 50-50 chance. (The budget had better make ...
• Hollinm, I will let Jean Chrétien speak for himself. But I do find your last paragraph interesting.
• Hollinm, I already knew that as a FORMER Conservative. As a Red Tory, it was either laugh or cry...
• Hollinm, On one thing we agree: cap and trade is as dead as those golden door knobs...Obama does not have the political clout needed to get it through Con...
• Hollinm, This Prime Minister has never met a risk he didn't like -- or take. For my part, I always suspected Liberals and our non-partisans would not m...
• But sometimes Zachary, the explanation just doesn't wash!!
• Exactly.
• Zachary, Sometimes in politics, what is left unsaid is immensely more interesting that what is put on the page...
• Hollinm, Too bad they don't give an Oscar for dramatic license. You're the winner hands down...but I have to admit that it did get a laugh out of me. (Nic...
• Hollinm, That's always been your trouble. You're much too considerate!
• Please Zachary, I'm just a simple strategist. I'm saying "uncle" right now!
• Zachary, Two things immediately come to mind: 1. Sometimes, albeit rarely, a small one morphs into a big one; 2. On other occasions, the internal dy...
• Canadian Press-Harris/Decima. CPC: 32% LPC: 30% NDP: 16% GP: 10% BQ: 41% in Quebec.
• Sorry, too much work to search for it. Will try later.
• Zachary, Thanks. The PDF link should appear on the Harris/Decima site but probably only tomorrow...
• Zachary, Much obliged!

Nanos National Poll - Canadians embrace Olympic peace (2010-02-11)

• Who Is The New Bridesmaid? We are living in "the moment" which will be crucial to determining who the next bridesmaid will be in federal politics. Until rec...
• TerryQ, Apparently not.
• Hollinm, Your reasoning amuses me. Don't you know by now that a driver never makes much headway on a road when the emphasis is constantly placed upon survey...
• Rough and tumblee, I'm sorry. Were you sick? Somehow you seem to have managed to miss the fact that a Conservative government has been in power these past f...
• rsharp2, Yeah, and with only that, it must mean they are really having an "off" day!
• Rough and tumblee, Nice return serve. I'll give you that.
• Hollinm, Please turn to your closest dictionary and look up the words "idle speculation"! Enough said.
• rsharp2, And all this time, I thought it was because anyone else at the helm would quickly run the good ship Conservative aground.
• Hollinm, He or she who prematurely stirs the pot ends up in it. A leadership crown inevitably passes in its own time. Stephen and Michael finally have somet...
• Rough and tumblee, You sure seem to be on a roll today. (Just like this Prime Minister. His speech today was excellent -- and no, I'm not "softening".)
• JasonC, We may not yet have a platform which is a net minus. However, that is far outweighed by this government's conduct. Incredibly, they really ARE goi...
• Bernie, Exceedingly well said.
• Prediction Time: Another Harper U-Turn Is Coming. Because I'm one hell of a nice guy, I thought I would let you all in on what I'm expecting from this Conse...
• Neveratory, Did you say charm offensive? From Harper? You can't be serious!
• rsharp2, This Prime Minister is dropping because he has finally worn out his welcome. Canadians' patience is at an end and they are no longer willing to giv...
• Tom, Your post is quite an eye opener. Thanks for sharing it with us.
• Neveratory, As the greatest Liberal fighter of our generation, you of all people will not make the mistake of underestimating our opponent. If we get carele...
• Bernie, Thanks! I could be wrong but it's my contention that from a narrow strategic perspective that this Prime Minister played Prorogation I and II brilli...
• Rough and tumblee, Yes indeed, the game is on! And personally, I'm looking forward to every glorious moment of it. It starts with accountability -- the form...
• Hollinm, You seem to be developing quite an edge...must be that poll that still has you rather rattled. Imagine what the next one will do. Steady man, steady!
• Hollinm, I'll bet. Why don't you tell us how this government is going to get its polling mojo back. Looks to me like the horse might already be out of the b...
• Neveratory, This is about as candid as it gets: they're through -- done as dinner -- unless collectively, the opposition commits the cardinal sin of punting...
• Hollinm, Just to set the record straight without going back to my ancient history. If my memory is correct, I thought Dion might win before the writ was dro...
• Hollinm, Strange coincidence that you've asked. I'm writing a post on my version of idle speculation as we exchange views.
• Why Is The NDP Dropping? You have to wonder whether a sea-change is in the offing when a party's numbers (Environics) start to head south in the troubling d...
• Hollinm, If Garth has "no credibility", does it not follow that whatever he writes should not have much effect on public opinion? In that case, what possibl...
• Tomorrow Is Valentine's Day. It would be nice if cyber attacks at least took a holiday on the Day Of Love. That's my trouble...always an idealist! But I can...
• Perfect timing to sign off and dig into Chantal Hébert's "French Kiss". See you, night all.
• Hollinm, That is the great thing about our wonderful democracy. We have a free speech right and we use it! Most people on this board respect that, even when...
• Rough and tumblee, Do you remember Nixon's "Silent Majority". Nixon deliberately tried to twist it and say they were all with him and backed his initiatives...
• Rough and tumblee, Come on. You've been around long enough and know a few things about clever repartee to realize that BOTH SIDES will do precisely that on ...
• Cyber Attacks. I want to make this point crystal clear, to quote Nixon: I'm against aggressive, over-the-top verbal assaults and have argued in the past th...
• Hollinm, We may now have our political differences: to put it in Conservative language, remember Harper's jump to Reform and Camp's jump from the Liberals t...
• And to those companies in Toronto and Montreal who have been kind enough to send me trojan horses in the past, as a means of intimidation, please stick it wh...
• Neveratory, Thanks. I'm much more careful with e-mail attachments now (even from so-called reputable firms), much to some people's frustration.
• Rough and tumblee, Please read my post again. I did not say WILL. I said IF.
• Rough and tumblee, If your comment is directed at me, the answer is no. My little computer gifts which have been received have absolutely nothing to do with...
• Rough and tumblee, Thanks. In my case, the trojan horses came via e-mail attachments. They were meant to shut me up and they were a courtesy of individual c...
• Donald Bruce Smith, I don't like it any better when my side does it. Both the government and opposition sides have done it in the past. For the most part, I...
• rough and tumblee, For my part, it's like water on a duck's back. We might as well move on.
• Donald Bruce Smith, I'm not saying this is a given by any stretch of the imagination but let us suppose for a moment that 13% is not the basement for the ...

Tories and Grits Gripped in a Tie (Completed February 4th 2010) (2010-02-08)

• Hollinm, "Campaigns are a funny thing and what we may think is the issue today will not even be mentioned in a campaign." When we get into an election, Lib...
• Hollinm, You know what they say about counting your chickens! Are you suggesting that you really have control? Are you telling us that you have the minor pa...
• Hollinm, Now that's quite an admission: that this government apparently will actually let us get to Montreal. No funny business on either the Throne Speech,...
• Hollinm, Fair enough.
• Stop equalization, You know how reasonable we are. We'll read it and then take a decision. That's what makes us a progressive party. Unlike some people, we ...
• 4Logie, The "other" and original Captain Smith said just about the same thing: look we are only a thousand yards from that nice iceberg.
• Stop equalization, Whatever happened to objective and balanced federal governments??? When are they finally going to distribute those "We Hate The Press Gal...
• Morpher, I guess someone screwed up and ran out of black extra-wide felt markers...but it wasn't all bad: at least some guy got his exercise in for the day...
• Stop equalization, Haven't you forgotten something? If memory serves, it was called Election 2004. Was it good for you? Point made, don't you agree?
• Stop equalization, Let me help: Liberal Prorogation With Majority Mandate From Voters--Good Conservative Prorogation With Minority Manda...
• Tom, From nobodies to sheep in 35 years...some might call that actual progress!
• Hi Tom, We're into the new normal. It's irreversible. Collegial cabinets are long gone, caucus is nothing more than a pathetic rubber stamp (except on the r...
• Tom, I could be wrong but I suspect both the Liberals and the NDP are still keen on both, especially the second but what's the point as long as this governm...
• Stop equalization, I hope you don't have any money riding on that!
• Nope, you still don't. It's legal and legitimate in parliamentary terms but it is in no way legitimate in political terms with a government having been elect...
• Stop equalization: are you a CLASSIC Star Trek television series fan? If so, this is for you: Quotation from Mr. Spock - "No one can guarantee the actions...
• Tom, It's pointless on the government side. Remember that the wolf signs their nomination papers before an election, or more importantly, a RE-ELECTION...it...
• Hollinm, "Funny I have never seen Harper having people around him to tell him what to say." That's because they're spread out too thin, telling everyone el...
• Blackacadian, I expect Max is in for a long stay in the doghouse. However, one thing could change that: if their fortunes sink so low in Ontario that Queb...
• Only Jack Knows For Sure. Jack said at a press conference that he's feeling pretty good. Glad to hear it. Hopefully, his treatment will go fine, without a...
• Hollinm, Let me say up front that I have absolutely no expertise in these matters. One thing does strike me -- were I on the receiving end for a shared co...
• rsharp2, The Gods know but they aren't telling.
• Hollinm, I agree there is no groundswell for national daycare. But there comes a time when you have to bite the bullet. Now, if taxpayers revolt over the ...
• Hollinm, My point is that this Prime Minister does not have enough confidence in his OWN ministers to let them think for themselves...the more competent a...
• Hollinm, A good strategist always cultivates his sources in both his former and present party! Let's leave it at that. And yes, I did indeed go overboa...
• Just Think Of The Game Show! Next time bureaucrats get into a little spot of trouble regarding Access to Information requests thanks to pesky ministerial ...
• Hollinm, Neither. I'm just an ordinary Joe who happens to know where to go and whom to speak with when I want to find out something I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-I-N-G!...
• Hollinm, Not in a million years! My CPC senators are both so loyal he could quite literally put his life in their hands. Those two guys wouldn't leak eve...
• Rough and tumblee, Why don't you at least be frank -- what you say is true of past Liberal governments but also of the latest incarnation of this government...
• Rough and tumblee, I presume this means that I met your father in the past. Please tell him right back at him!
• Rough and tumblee, If we fight the good fight that is what is truly important in the end...not really whether we win or lose. For my part, I try to be gra...

Nanos Leadership Index and Ballot (2009-12-30)

• What's Wrong With This Government? Just caught my two favourite pundits on the tube this morning. Now that's better. In fact, one hell of a lot less frostie...
• Non-Aligned in Toronto, One can't make that argument in Michael's case. Reagan had a serious medical condition, which I suspect, was already diagnosed durin...
• That Conservative New Year's Resolution. I hope that the linguists are being paid overtime -- talk about previously pent up demand from the royal blue side ...
• Taking The War To The Conservatives. Prorogation II has killed the well-worn myth of parties working together for the common good. In reality, that was neve...
• Non-aligned in Toronto, It takes TWO to form a deliberate willingness to go down that road...I've warned in the past that that type of tactic is at best, co...
• Brusmit, Would you agree with me on the following? Chrétien has the ability to go for the jugular but with humour. To my mind, it all started with Diefenbak...
• Brusmit, I took figurative writing to a new height with my podium statement. I should have been a lot cleaner so readers wouldn't conclude that I expected a...
• Brusmit, My views are not represented in any way, shape or form in the OLO. To be perfectly frank, the more that inaction reigns, the more an impression of ...
• Tom, You will fall off your chair when you read this! My comments will be completely contrary to previously expressed positions on leadership. I'm writing,...
• Rough and tumblee, Nice yarn. If anyone thinks Liberals will roll over and play dead, expect one mighty unpleasant revelation to be revealed to Conservative...
• Rough and tumble, I will take him or her on, if or as necessary. Happy New Year! If we play our cards right, it could be one hell of a Liberal year.
• Brusmit, Happy New Year! Thanks. I will head over to the Globe and Mail now. You have made it quite irresistible by what you've posted from the article.
• Brusmit, What's happening? Surely, you're not going soft because of the holidays! I find your latest comments quite balanced vis-à-vis we Liberals. Perhaps...
• Brusmit, I honestly don't know. The deck was so stacked against Martin by 2006: sponsorship, Options-Canada, RCMP inquiry into the conduct of the finance mi...
• Brusmit, Thanks. The more we think alike, the more Liberals are likely to put distance between themselves and yours truly...but hey, you've got to call 'em ...
• Rough and tumblee, Robust action is a many splendid thing. Just ask this Prime Minister. Options are available. Our task is to pick them -- especially in Ma...
• Rough and tumblee, Call me full of myself -- but it's been our collective experience that the more Conservatives are dead set against something -- the more ...
• Rough and tumblee, Does it not logically flow that if Conservative public policy is now or has always been excellent, that those same Canadians would have p...
• Rough and tumblee, A course of action will always inevitably trump a course of inaction...
• Consertative Supporter, I've just logged in to my Twitter account. It took about twenty seconds. Are you sure that your log-name or e-mail and password are ...
• Rough and tumblee, Agreed, and someone will. In our present political reality, Michael knows he has one shot and not two (as is traditionally afforded Liber...
• Rough and tumblee, Under the new normal, the new unofficial but widely understood political reality, Michael, or any other leader (hypothetically speaking),...
• Rough and tumblee, Thank you. Same to you. Our model is this Prime Minister. The man has come a long way: remember when they were not exactly wild about Har...
• Tom, Nice to see that we are on the same wavelength on prorogation. I expect it to come back and haunt this government. I suspect that as soon as the Prime...
• Consertative Supporter, I'm a bit of an odd duck on all of this: I never use my Twitter page and my damned Facebook page has been blank since I became a mem...
• Brusmit, I'm a very crass person Brusmit who has not been enlightened enough today to survey any of the morning papers. So preoccupied with potentially accu...
• Brusmit, I don't happen to believe in Alice in Wonderland, The Tooth Fairy or The Easter Bunny...for any politician to suggest that we can reach balance by ...
• Brusmit, In French we say la cerise sur le sundae (and the kicker -- the cherry on the sundae) is the following: imagine the size of the pending political t...
• Consertative Supporter, Interesting read. I know nothing about the comportment of Olympic athletes. Two things strike me: each athlete has to do the best he...
• Tom, House and Senate reform to my mind is simple as can be. I could probably accomplish it in two days of meetings. Call me full of it, but that's as far a...
• Brusmit, Perhaps we should cast our eyes toward Ottawa next. I suspect that we may be able to find incidences of individual double-dipping there...
• There Goes That Carefree Spring... That's one positive thing you can say about the Harper PMO. It's nothing if not a hub of frenzied activity. Can you just ...
• Tom, I'm not a constitutional lawyer but with respect, I doubt that can be done without the seven provinces on board. Am I wrong? As for Liberal alternativ...
• Well, Excuse Me! This just in from 660 News: Psychic says Tories set for majority Kelly Turner Jan 02, 2010 12:10:09 PM Scandal, betrayal and a security b...
• Tom, Even if it could pass thanks to the new Senators, surely the three opposition parties will line up in the House to prevent that. I suspect the NDP, lon...
• Rough and tumble, Nice one. But the question at hand is whether he also will be subject to major and perhaps unanticipated renovations...
• Brusmit, Again we are at a respectful impasse. If you guys poison-pill, it will take turning water into wine to pin it on the Liberals, or any other opposit...
• Brusmit, I'm not so sure. The creaming would only be possible in Western Canada. It would have little to no effect in seat-rich Ontario, where most NDP seat...
• Midnight Has Come And Gone. And still no PMO Press Release on Senate appointments. They're slipping! Are they waiting until we are all comatose??? Good Ni...
• Brusmit, Hopefully, other posters will add to our debate. P.S. You strike me as being just as in touch as I am. Nighty, night.
• Brusmit, Truthfully, no. But I still remember how to work a back channel -- and that does provide occasional success.
• Tom, Even Liberals know that reform must come to the Upper Chamber. IMHO, once any government has a majority, it will have to be tackled. If it takes 10-25 ...
• Brusmit, My comments were based on contemporary reality. But if Tom's projections re: the time frame on Senate reform are correct, all that I previously sai...
• Joan, No wonder Canadians don't want an election. I guess they'd rather not chance another campaign while this government is on a "roll"...
• Africon, Happy New Year! Forgive me but I'm anally retentive this morning: actually it must have been at Laurier House. If memory serves correctly, the...
• Rough and tumble, Happy New Year! Thank you. I hope we'll soon be very busy! But most Liberals believe my thinking is full of it.
• Joan, Happy New Year! May 2010 be the year of change.
• Rough and tumble, I knew Senator Léopold Langlois. Thank God I'm so young otherwise it would really date me! Anyway, as I recall mandatory retirement at 7...
• Consertative Supporter, Will get back to you on that ASAP. Signed, Formerly from the side of the party you don't like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Consertative Supporter, I was a Progressive Conservative and Conservative and left the party in December 2008 to join the Liberals.
• Tom, Agreed. Happy New Year!
• Consertative Supporter, I'm sticking with Michael. Remember how Chrétien and Harper couldn't give water away to a person dying of thirst...things have a f...
• Rough and tumble, This Prime Minister is entering dangerous waters if he proceeds in the same fashion Mulroney did to get the Free Trade Agreement through...
• Rough and tumblee, The opposition can only be pushed so far: prorogation twice and if this Prime Minister goes for a Mulroney -- that may be the straw tha...
• Rough and tumblee, I take your point that Chrétien prorogued twice. As for the rest, both of us will see, won't we.
• Consertative Supporter, Here we go: (I'm assuming that you had no trouble creating your Twitter account.) Click on Sign In and (type e-mail; and password ...
• The Thorn For Harper In The Wildrose. Well, Danielle Smith, you seem to be off to a flying start. Next you'll be getting official party status -- after al...
• Brusmit, Never say never! Stephen Harper is living proof of that. We all thought (those of us in the Belinda camp) he would never make it and become Prim...
• The Disinformation Olympics. Geez, who would have thought that little old Canada would in the space of a few weeks get to enjoy TWO Olympic events. One will...
• Brusmit, Personally, I'll believe it when they source it, not before. But they won't have the guts to do that.
• LHTW, As someone who remains convinced that this Prime Minister will poison-pill the budget, the odds are pretty likely -- unless the Conservatives start ...
• LHTW, You mean like Conservative cabinet ministers, Stockwell excepted!
• Brusmit, Does the name of some guy called Obama mean anything to you? He just spent the better part of a month vacationing in Hawaii and we didn't hear yo...
• Rough and tumble, Nice to see you haven't mellowed over the holidays!
• LHTW, Our soldiers will support the incumbent government. You know that very well. It all goes back to Borden in the First World War.
• Brusmit, Quite obviously with the delay in appointing the five senators, that means that this Prime Minister is planning on using the "Mulroney" clause to...
• Brusmit, It usually takes me a while but I do try! Thanks.
• Can You Spell G-A-M-E- C-H-A-N-G-E-R? At least one pundit predicted that Prorogation II would be a game-changer and I agree with that assessment. Check...
• Brusmit, Logical. No doubt about it, if the PM goes it's because projections are at bare minimum for a Conservative win. Otherwise, what would be the poin...
• Brusmit, As a Liberal free-agent there is nothing to stop me so OK.
• Brusmit, Here is my dispassionate "off-the-cuff" analysis: The Conservative war room is correct in following these metrics and sub-sets. Liberals shoul...
• Brusmit, Have a nice evening. I won't...laundry.
• Brusmit, I think you hit the target on HST in BC.
• Brusmit, Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't Michael's children from his first marriage residents in the United Kingdom? That was my impression but I don't...
• Brusmit, As a married man, you know how it goes: when a good women isn't cracking the whip...things slide and it did!
• Brusmit, Rather pressed for time this morning but again my sense of it is that you are correct: HST bleeding could very well account for it, rather dramat...
• Rough and tumble, I'm tired. Too much getting on the pot without shitting. Time for me to take a long rest...
• Rough and tumble, Yes, that too! Gone home, back to my own blog where I can be myself, come what may. I'm not made of as strong stuff as you are. I though...
• Brusmit, Thank you. You're welcome to visit if you are so inclined. http://politicalcivildiscourse.blogspot.com/
• Hi Jack, Happy New Year! Long time no see. I'm spending my time over at my blog with a lot less to say than was previously the case. As you can see, I'm sti...
• Consertative Supporter, It's Donolo's shop. He can run it as he sees fit. Last time we were in the room together, he expressed his view that this is not the...
• Tom, Amen, brother...
• Jack, As a Conservative, you won't subscribe to the following (at least I think you won't) but here it goes: as Liberals, it's not only our job but our OBLI...
• Brusmit, Reminds me of the iron law of diminishing political returns for this government!
• Jack, They say that the smug quiet self-satisfaction of saying after the fact "I told you so.", is a pleasant experience. Quite frankly, it's one I would pr...
• Brusmit, Prorogation may indeed turn out to be the mouse that roared but one thing is certain: it has killed the previous open-mind many Canadians had with ...
• Rumpole, You won't be surprised to find out that I did not attend an anti-prorogation rally. Yes, I signed the petition but don't like to waste my time pret...
• Brusmit, That should just about finish me in Ottawa. But enough is enough. Time to call a spade a spade...
• Brusmit, Fair enough. Signing off now. Nice talking to you but time to hang it up when it has just become simply going through the motions. Have got bette...
• Economic Action Scam, Most people in Ottawa never really learn. Once again, it's a Conservative round. Foolish to the extreme but an overreach is an overr...
• Brusmit, There are always innovative ways for an incumbent government to handle issues such as Colvin. This latest move, clumsy though it may be, does not...
• Jack, You have plenty of breathing room left, even under Harper. The voters in their infinite wisdom??...have basically decided that Jack and Michael will...
• CanadianPatriot, Again, the same pattern continues: we Liberals rise but level off rather than continue PAST the Conservatives. Isn't that the POINT of th...
• Neveratory, Let's get something clear, none of us want us to "peak" now. What I think is reasonable is for our trajectory to be continually ascending incr...
• Jack, With respect, you are stuck with this Prime Minister until he loses. And right now, unless the OLO does a big 180, Harper's odds of re-election with...
• Brusmit, Harper just doesn't get it. Each time his government takes another shot at Colvin, it's happy days are here again for the opposition parties. Mi...
• NotoLibtoads, By all means, go Harper go! Send in old Stock to slash and burn over at Treasury Board. Make the place look like it just went through World ...
• I'm Not For Turning. This Prime Minister believes in playing hard ball. I admire that. That's why he has 51 senators! But I also think that we have to take ...
• Neveratory, As an aside, at least you didn't choose the moniker Neveraredtory! I hope Michael is receptive to your overtures. Good Luck.
• Brusmit, Instead of playing cat and mouse (or is it mouse and cat?) with your opposite number, how about addressing my points. You might find that more inte...
• Brusmit, I'm in but not as in as before...when something of interest pops up, I'll have a few words to say. As for replies, I hope it does not offend you ...
• Neveratory, Some choose to use multiple identities. That's not my bag. However, my attitude is, whatever floats your boat. I suspect that in the long run,...
• Brusmit, Likewise.
• The Verdict Is In: We're Considered Nothing More Than "IDIOTS"! Comforting thought -- play us all for fools and hope we aren't smart enough to see through t...
• Neveratory, If you're in the mood, stayed tuned. I feel another one coming over me!
• And The Winner Of The Captain Smith Award Is...Prime Minister Stephen Harper! Nice going, Ottawa...the PM and Peter Van Loan are slated to make the big anno...
• Jack, It really boggles the mind to see this Prime Minister presiding over one recent political and public relations disaster after another...whether you ...
• Talk about Chutzpah! Nice to see the Harper government on the defensive over the Bye Bye American accord. Up until recently, it was a "[Stephen], we didn't ...
• JasonC, This strikes me as a tired government going about doing its "best" work just before it potentially falls into the actual throes of political death...
• JasonC, I will be pulling for Jack. He's an honorable man who has well served his country and deserves many more years at it! In politics, we take people an...
• Neveratory, No kidding, not you! Who would have thought it.
• Neveratory, We have to be extremely careful since this matter is under investigation. IMHO, the only responsible thing that can be said is that this situati...
• Jason, With respect, I take a different view: the future ballot question will be one of competence. This Prime Minister is many things -- including seen by ...
• Neveratory, You said "[ ] ...until much closer in to an election." To my mind, that's progress. What haunts me is the following (which I believe will not a...

Nanos National Poll - Views on Afghan detainees issue (2009-12-23)

• If You Think You Can Take A Breather...Think Again, And Fast! We're back to amateur hour in Ottawa -- with some bright lights predicting that we won't see a...
• Brusmit, Thanks. I'm good and may figure it out. But then again, perhaps I may not prove to be good enough. We'll both see whether others are up to the chal...
• Brusmit, If we're talking direct government initiatives and legislative priorities, I have much homework ahead of me... If we're talking indirect benefits ...
• Brusmit, It's highly convenient to brand Harper as the cause of the race to the bottom. At most, he is a manifestation, a contributing factor. Others are eq...
• Brusmit, Careful, you are morphing into a Red Tory. You don't want to generate a collective heart attack west of the lakehead! Exceedingly fine points, IMH...
• Brusmit, What about the other truth of war as illustrated by Delta in Chicago? Even on a war footing, governments consistently and inevitably drop the ball ...
• Oops, that should be Detroit.
• Brusmit, Agreed that you did not suggest that he was the cause.
• Brusmit, I have a fair idea who you mean but I'd rather not push my luck! Perhaps you even have a couple of candidates east of the lakehead.
• Brusmit, Agreed but we should be on the stick with potentially people's lives at stake. It was a shocking wonder to see all those children coming off Delta ...
• Brusmit, Yes, thank you. I presume you had the same?
• Brusmit, You know my position on the Charter which may or may not apply to some of these cases. You know my position on positive actors versus people caught...
• Brusmit, One more thing. The more that the Charter can serve as a pain in the ass for government, the more I rejoice. It's our job as citizens to stick it t...
• Brusmit, Fair enough. But problem one seems to be the watch lists. Names are not enough. We need enhanced detail to pick out the correct ABC from the 1000 p...
• Brusmit, You know you've got one hell of a problem when sitting members of the U.S. Senate have trouble boarding flights...while purported bombers are almos...
• Perhaps true balance can never be achieved, on any matter, even in the most peaceable of times.
• OFF TOPIC: Brusmit, What's your prediction for reconciliation in Washington? Will the Senate and the House of Representatives get a bill (as I eventually e...
• Why Did Clinton Take A Beating? You have no idea how I hope someone out there sends John Parisella our way! That's one of the burning questions for me abou...
• Brusmit, Insightful. Thanks. The only problem is you're still not a betting man.
• Rough and tumble, I'm in complete agreement with the second part, but not the first. The race to the bottom has indeed, unfortunately, been going on fo...
• Brusmit, The essential truth is that neither major party wants to face the voters. They both need to get their numbers up. As you know, my electoral ca...
• Rough and tumble, Holy C....! I would give my little fellas to know why. Is it because he veered far too left in their eyes or have they got some other beef?
• Brusmit, I've noticed that!
• Brusmit, If what Rough and tumble has suggested is not factual, all you have to do is confirm it.
• Brusmit, You know I'm always willing to oblige: 1) I prefer to use the term regroup!; 2) Not really. It won't be like LBJ would like it in the House...
• Brusmit, Obviously, neither you or I have the information at hand. Those who want to confirm or refute his statement can go at it. Both of us, I suspect, ...
• Brusmit, Neither of you gives a damn what the other person thinks. Why bother illustrating his comments. My advice would be the same to him. That exercise...
• Brusmit, 2) This might help: we don't need to push for an election. All we have to do is turn the House into a mini-Senate. Liberal MPs only have to be le...
• Brusmit, One poll had the CPC in the 32% range. It's the Angus Reid poll but I'm a little mixed up -- it's on Harper's personal leadership numbers, not on...
• Hollinm, Remember how low Reagan dropped during the recession of 1982...he recovered from that and went on to win a second term. I'm not ruling that ou...
• Hollinm, I see two game-changers ahead: one will depend on the implementation process post-Montreal. Rapid substantive action will be needed to translate ...
• Hollinm, Remember when they started calling Clinton "Slick Willy". It wasn't for the obvious reason...and it stuck. The voters nodded and then threw him o...
• Hollinm, At this stage, my money is on Romney. But we all know what happens to "frontrunners"!...
• Hollinm, To my mind, that won't be a problem for most Americans. IMHO, it will only hurt a potential Republican ticket on the margins.
• Speculating On The Way Forward. Sorry Nik, but I want to mention the last Harris/Decima poll: most of you remember that one -- it put Conservative support...
• Sorry Brusmit. Not in my lifetime. When Powell endorsed Obama that did it for most Republicans. Powell is now an enemy for life among social conservatives wh...
• Hollinm, Are you predicting an outright win?
• Brusmit, That incredible crashing sound you hear is the long heralded but frequently forestalled Conservative majority going right off the cliff!!!!!!
• Brusmit, I can find it for you. Hold tight!
• Brusmit, That's certainly your opinion.
• Brusmit, You know me, the out-of-the-box thinker. Now you can also add counter-cyclical!
• Brusmit, Quite obviously, and respectfully said, you aren't yet sufficiently acquainted with American social conservatives.
• Brusmit, À votre service! Here is a starting point: OTTAWA (Reuters) - [...] A Harris-Decima survey, released by the Canadian Press late on Wed...
• Brusmit, The herd mentality isn't my bag. Sort of explains why I'm no longer a Conservative. Fawning isn't my gig. He gave me bad vibes over at the Allian...
• Brusmit, They have a right to their views though some may consider them "misguided" but then again -- so do I, or you, for that matter.
• Brusmit, It isn't posted on either Harris/Decima or Canadian Press...
• Hollinm, To win we have to strike it rich in two areas: fatigue and exasperation factor along with an overall change dynamic. Are they building yet? I thi...
• Brusmit, Agreed that for the moment, that it's a magnificent cavalcade of one!
• Brusmit, Nice one!
• Hollinm, In politics, we both agree, that yes ANYTHING is indeed possible, though unlikely.
• Brusmit, Some people should change their names from [insert name of animal] to FRISKY!!!!!!!!!! (Damned lawyers.)
• Brusmit, H/D is only up to posting December 7th, so far...
• Brusmit, Agreed that the odds favour a stemming of any possible Liberal tide. It will be a tough slog to make gains in rural ridings. No question about it...
• Brusmit, How about this: you have work to do; we have more to do than you have.
• Brusmit, Agreed that Bloc clout goes down over time but neither of us will be winning Trudeauesque 70+ seats in Quebec anytime soon. Always remember t...
• Consertative Supporter, Happy New Year! Bennett was a self-made millionaire. He was a Conservative and got whipped by the Depression and Mackenzie King. (...
• Consertative Supporter, If you go on the Bank of Canada website they will confirm which PM was in power when they were created. Don't forget to look fo...

Nanos-Policy Options National Poll - Third Annual "Mood of Canada" Poll (2009-12-09)

• Brusmit, Can the MPCC seek leave to appeal to the SCC or is that door closed to them? If it is, or if they can seek leave but are unlikely to get it, then y...
• In Politics, You Win Some, You Lose Some... You know how the old trite saying goes: for every door that shuts, a window opens! That's what I'm admiring now ...
• Why MacKay Is Going Nowhere. I almost feel like breaking out into a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner what with all the bombs bursting in air -- day in ...
• Brusmit, Something tells me that you can really relate to the following: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Good for you! After all, it's...
• Rough and tumble, Here's where we respectfully disagree: the PM can't afford to SIDELINE another Defence Minister. You've been around for a long time. You...
• Brusmit, I have a pretty good idea where this leak came from. This is one fine deflection slapshot, if I've ever seen one. Now someone gets to play the...
• Tommies, If Harper thinks that the holiday break will mean that the fat lady has sung, he's dreaming. This isn't over by a longshot as this Prime Minister...
• Brusmit, One of my favourite theories goes as follows: it's always better to be in the Artic standing on pack ice than on new ice...to my knowledge, whist...
• Brusmit, I can relate to your argument but both of us know that it's bound to be much more than one on the Conservative watch. The coffee is still percola...
• Brusmit, Why that should be more than obvious - WINNING ice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why do you think that I'm still in the game.
• Brusmit, Nothing anyone does can put this monkey on Michael's back. He is in the clear and will remain so.
• Brusmit, Let's not mix apples and oranges -- apples are directly related to previous government conduct, either Liberal or Conservative; oranges on the...
• Something For The Government of Canada. Let's start off with a given -- to become a successful exporter, you usually have to start out as an importer. That ...
• Come on Brusmit! You guys have been in power almost four years and you're right back where you started when you formed your first government. That WOULD mak...
• Tommies, Just what every Canadian soldier wants while missing the family -- a visit from Stephen Harper... That should heal the boo boo all right!
• Brusmit, If we got rid of all the politicians wanking us as voters, no one would be left in the Commons to watch the place burn down thanks to the flame! N...
• Brusmit, Pay particular notice to the fact that I know when to shut up.
• Brusmit, Are you saying that the Harper government's SCC reference is about to be stayed so that Omar can come home and face trial? Now that would be trul...
• Brusmit, I told every Liberal I could find not to turn that CPC brick of a handbook on obstructing parliamentary committee work into a bible but I guess it ...
• Mode man, I hope you remember to read my latest post. Much appreciated.
• Brusmit, Quite frankly, I think we have our work cut out for us. You will note that my hair is steadily turning grey. Fortunately, not being in the OLO, the...
• Brusmit, I'm saying Liberal mistakes were made by both Chrétien and Martin. (Oops, I knew I should have kept it shut.)
• Brusmit, Don't you recognize an indirect punt when you see one? The master has taught all of us.
• But Brusmit, if that's the case, where are YOUR two Trudeau and THREE Chrétien majorities! I think you guys still need a little more class time. You're not ...
• Brusmit, I'm on the outside looking in, not the other way around. Who knows?
• Brusmit, My indirect punt could also be categorized as an artful deflection. Hope that helps.
• But Brusmit, The only relevant point is: who happens to be doing the teaching?!
• Brusmit, You are too kind today. Will you be the same when my fellow Liberal shows up for work?!!!!!!!!!
• Brusmit, Well, it might happen in the chamber where Animal House runs rampant -- brought to us in equal measure by all the parties "represented" there...no ...
• Rough and tumble, We won't need pills -- soon enough!
• Brusmit, Governor-Generals are like Bob Barker-speak about animals. Same refrain, that in the final analysis, applies in spades to all G-Gs, past, present a...
• Cheers For Jason. I'm dumbfounded. Listen to all that cheering for Jason Kenney on CBC News Network. I'll bet none of it is coming from Mother Corp. headqua...
• Brusmit, And I thought Conservatives were potential Wild Rosers, just waiting for it to go national. Keep the faith, baby!
• Brusmit, It's our job to turn that temporary squeeze into a semi-permanent Liberal hug!
• Brusmit, Do like I do -- dwell in the realm of the theoretical, which allows both of us to potentially get a majority. The rest, as you well know, is just p...
• Brusmit, Time will prove one of us right and the other a political idiot. Notice how I've not deliberately placed either one of us in one or other of the tw...
• Tommies, Hate to break it to you but all parties support the people in uniform. The Conservative unpatriotic smokescreen hasn't worked -- and won't. The Can...
• Brusmit, We have to play it right -- be on our best game to win. Otherwise, it's curtains. That's why we're changing the cast of characters in the OLO. Brin...
• Brusmit. Well said. Agreed.
• Brusmit, Another point comes to mind: we're only as good as our last strategic decision, which in many cases, quite literally turns out to be the last one.
• Blackacadian, Agreed. Only the creator knows ahead of time how the electoral calculus will ultimately shake out.
• Rough and tumble, The Conservatives play the game relying on one man and his strategic assets. Look at the incredible difference in ability between Mr. Nove...
• Tommies, I'm not commenting on whether this tact is a sound political strategy to move polls. What I'm saying is that anyone who charges that the opposition...
• Brusmit, For a guy who earlier today knew absolutely nothing about indirect punting, you've learned a lot rather quickly! (Witness your last paragraph.) As...
• Brusmit, Not in the mood for a pissing contest. We will continue to disagree on this matter. We'll both defer to the future instruction we receive from the ...
• Brusmit, Too bad a Conservative government can't find the logic to trust Liberal Privy Councillors. Interesting, isn't it. What does that say about this gov...
• Brusmit, Your rather intense reaction suggests that unlike Truman, you guys are having trouble taking the heat. As a former Conservative, that surprises me....
• Brusmit, You forget where Liberal Privy Councillors comes from: it started with you saying that documents that were not redacted would only be provided to P...
• Brusmit, Off all people, you're the person who knows best there are many compelling versions of the truth. One will favour your side, one mine. The actual...
• Brusmit, I'll try -- if I can find it again but it could take some time.
• Brusmit, We aren't stupid. The voters have spoken on the coalition. Some Liberals will wear this, even in a possible government. They will be held accounta...
• Brusmit, Thank you. You have no idea how relieved I am to stand corrected. It would have been pure hell searching for that. Now, please explain to me why L...
• Brusmit, I believe that your SECOND point is an excellent analysis of things and I wholeheartedly agree with it, except for forecasting direct future voting...
• Brusmit, Nice return serve on the 35 years. Your point is well taken BUT we're talking about the present and future -- the response of the so-called "ACCOUN...
• A F G H A N I S T A N. Conservative types are stressed out and rather irritated over the entire mess. They've asked Santa to make it all blow over -- or eve...
• Brusmit, "The other point is the Liberals cannot paint the Conservatives with one brush and expect the Liberals who are painted with the same brush to then ...
• Brusmit, Proceed as you wish. I'm winded but can continue!
• Brusmit, You weren't kidding quite a while back when you said you were good at multi-tasking! How about closing this front until after eight for a bite? We...
• Brusmit, Have you taken to doing delicate painting with a roller? My God, let's take each of these whoppers one at a time: a) With support of the troops at...
• Brusmit, We are all one whether we have many incarnations or not. I'm the only one of the three of us that goes solo on this board. I hope you admire our g...
• Brusmit, I don't like the PMO or the various Departments making the rules when they are clearly implicated in something. I also don't like public servants c...
• Brusmit, I have one word for all this: N I X O N. No one is above the law in the U.S. or this country. I don't happen to practice constitutional law. Ordina...
• Brusmit, Nope. I can smell blood in the water -- and it ain't Liberal red. The Conservatives are a might too fidgety in body language. That says it all. Sta...
• Brusmit, You stick to your guns. I'll stick to mine.
• Please Brusmit. The Senate has a deck of cards without a single ace. The will of the House of Commons will ultimately prevail. As long as you have the Libera...
• Brusmit, Next you'll be telling us that the Christmas lights on Parliament Hill weren't very nice tonight...
• Rough and tumble, You should be more charitable -- not to miss Tim's Christmas party!
• Brusmit, Are you sure you got that right? Surely, you meant to say P-A-Y-D-I-R-T.
• Nighty, night Brusmit. Try not to get this government into any further pickles over the recess, that is, if you can actually help it! Happy holidays to you...
• Brusmit, Personally, I prefer the term in transition toward government.
• Hey Brusmit, Here's a bit of advice: try not to be such a grumpy elf so close to Christmas. You really seem to be feeling the heat. How about taking the dog...
• Prime Minister: Please Tell Peter To Pass The Spade On To Lawrence! I don't know about you but it suddenly dawned on me that Defence Minister Peter MacKay s...
• Rough and tumble, Did you know that the Conservative's favourite Christmas carol is by Nat King Cole? It starts off like this: Chestnuts roasting on an ope...
• Rough and tumble, Especially in Copenhagen! Poor Prentice...the next "Stanfield"...
• Copenhagen: Tears Flowing. Can I ever relate to all the frustration that is building over climate change in Copenhagen. Canada, once seen as a model for the...
• Brusmit, Did you give your sense of humour away for Christmas? Sure sounds like it...
• Brusmit, Good thing this Prime Minister is not in your frame of mind. Otherwise, he'd arrive in Copenhagen as the grinch with what else -- a lump of oil san...
• Brusmit, You weren't this grouchy when your government was riding high. But now that the government is taking serious hits, it's turning into a whine-a-thon...
• Brusmit, No wonder you will find it especially galling when the so-called "brainless" manage to push this government out of office. I can relate to being b...
• Consertative Supporter, You know we can't do that. You worked in financial services all your life. You know that what is good for the goose is good for the ...
• Brusmit, Remember when Michael said: "Mr. Harper, your time is up!" That was the real Michael speaking. He is no fool. He know that if he leads, the people ...
• Brusmit, You used to be able to take a punch. What happened?
• Brusmit, I'm not in the habit of lying. Notice how I did not extend that sentence. You know that I'm not an expert but if memory serves, I believe that you...
• Brusmit, Respect is a two-way street. To get it, you have to earn it. Someone should remind the Prime Minister of that. He can check with public servants, j...
• Brusmit, You are politically sophisticated enough to know that it is neither for you or me to judge whether our punches have landed. That is best left to th...
• Brusmit, Michael is not hiding. He'll have more to say soon enough.
• Brusmit, We will face the voters. And when we do, the vote will be on ACCOUNTABILITY -- not Liberal accountability but that of a four-year Conservative gove...
• Brusmit, You should be telling this Prime Minister how to do his job, not me. But since you quite obviously won't, I will oblige: 1. it's his job and respo...
• Brusmit, Disingenuous does not become you. You know perfectly well that we (I was part of we in 2006) got a free ride in that campaign. We were on message a...
• Brusmit, See Brusmit, you made me laugh with this post. Now you're getting into the zone but I can't let that happen for too long: a) Neither of us was bor...
• Brusmit, As Ronnie would say: "There you go, again." Remember Brusmit, when steering the ship of state, it's generally a good idea to look forward and not ...
• Brusmit, We live in a democracy. I can punch as high as I bloody well want.
• Brusmit, Are you serious? The press all but carried us across the finish line. You forget how many editorial boards endorsed us -- The Globe and Mail comes ...
• Brusmit, As before, agreed on these points: 4, 5 & 6.
• Brusmit, It's kind of hard to check with him, at the moment. I thought you were going to come up with a Johnism: "I didn't take the fish out of the GD ocean...
• Brusmit, FULL DISCLOSURE: As you know I'm in conflict of interest here. The less our clients pay, the less we potentially lose in proposals or bankruptcies....
• Brusmit, Agreed. I flew off the handle. I apologize.
• Brusmit, You know how this government's position on GHGs gets me going. And I'm a relatively old fart. Imagine how the young people feel. No wonder that wom...
• Brusmit, To lighten the mood, let me tell you a story: in my considerably younger journalistic days, good old J came to town along with his then campaign ma...
• Brusmit, If you insist.
• Brusmit, I missed that. Fair is fair. While I'm searching for links, please send me the one for the SCC saying that the coalition was trying to break the la...
• Brusmit, Yes he did add seats, didn't he. He expects to do it again next time. We'll see!
• Brusmit, I don't get to decide anything either fortunately: a) for the Liberals; OR b) for the Conservatives. Take your pick.
• Brusmit, Understood.
• Obama On 60 Minutes.
• Media Who Endorsed Harper in 2006. http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:EUeDgjmw52IJ:www.thevancouverite.com/vancouver_politics/sun_province_endorse_harper/+...
• Brusmit, Again, I can and do see your point.
• Brusmit, J is forced by circumstances to play in partnership with his premier. He was appointed by this Prime Minister. As for J's premier, I doubt Harper w...
• Hey Hollinm and Lex Ludor, Care to give us your views on my assessment of the 2006 campaign. Thank you. For your convenience, I will cut and paste it below...
• Khalid: Canadian Press Drops A Bomb Shell. Because this story has been specifically copyrighted, it's wise to not even cut and paste part of it. Two things...
• Consertative Supporter, I limit my Asian exposure to two Ex-Japan mutual funds. Guess which one is out performing -- wait for it, HSBC! (Thought you might...
• Consertative Supporter, Agreed. In spite of the glut in gas, you know me -- patience is my middle name.
• Brusmit, Agreed. Now, what I'm about to write applies to any government. It's my contention, without verification, that coming in, Harper was ahead with t...
• Brusmit, Here it is.: Cadman rapped by party for HST rebuke Published: December 09, 2009 12:00 PM Updated: December 09, 2009 4:17 PM Dona Cad...
• Brusmit, We are not of the same school. I believe in whipped votes and tight discipline. That is vital when you are the government. But when you happen to...
• Brusmit, One more point. If it became an issue of conscience and I was a backbench MP (God Forbid...), I would vote against my party or government but ann...
• Brusmit, As regards the FLW, all I can say is that I suspect she will be receiving Crazy Glue for Christmas... As for the enthusiastic enrollment of ne...
• Brusmit, I don't know. Look at it theoretically. MPs should be trying as much as possible to reflect the views of their constituents once they have seen t...
• Brusmit, Someone might tell her to use it if she keeps this up.
• Please Fire All The Losers Proposing 11% For Greenhouse Gas Reductions in Canada. Thank you.
• Brusmit, Can't be. All journalists are supposed to be Liberals! Remember?
• JuandeFuca, Makes me wonder if all Conservative strategists are recent graduates from "Dig Your Own Grave University"... DYOGU rocks.
• Brusmit, Please give it a rest...
• Brusmit, Please make my week and prorogue. I like it when people cut their own throats. Saves me some time and effort.
• Brusmit, It may not have occurred to you but I do have to at least hold up the pretense of doing my job -- once in a while!
• Brusmit, No one could chase you from this board even with a tank.
• Brusmit, Same to you and yours. P.S. I wouldn't call it testy -- I prefer incredibly realistic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Brusmit, I've had a chance to read some of the pieces. I'm glad that the Liberal Party has apologized for that photo. All parties need to remember that wh...
• Brusmit, Canadians have a better chance of seeing a Republic of Ron than a Republic of Alberta. Albertans think big and live big. The day they flirt with ...
• Zoolander, I disagree. Perception is everything -- even indirect perception. To my mind, it's right for Michael to speak to Canadians on this matter to al...
• Zoolander, Can you say highly competent legal counsel extremely, extremely quickly...!!!
• Brusmit, You guys sure don't seem to be familiar with the concept of political "retooling". Too bad. Hello...
• Brusmit, We're not idiots and Michael is, and he should be, in favour of oil sands development. Pacing is what concerns me. But that is for Stelmach to de...
• Brusmit, As many lovers can attest, a true representation is often, to say the very least "disappointing"...at times like that, one wonders whether someon...
• Brusmit, Candidly, it's a long hard slog, à la Rumsfeld, but as you well know from Harper's own experience, every ultimately successful journey begins wit...
• True Friendships Are Harder Than Diamonds. God knows in this business it's hard enough to strike up a genuine friendship with people in your own party -- ...
• Brusmit, They call it politics because, unfortunately, everybody plays it on every issue...to get a clear picture we have to calculate from the get-go. Se...
• Brusmit, I enjoyed that.
• Just So You Know... Dear Tony, The rest of us aren't exactly thrilled...we know this is an arms length relationship but some of us are concerned with e...
• Brusmit, What do I know but my gut says we will never see any geographic entity separating from our wonderful country of Canada -- and yes, that includes ...
• Brusmit, What I'm suggesting is that in our profession, we may have a professional association (CSCB) which liasons with the federal government but our tr...
• 1) Both. They do an effective job representing provincial interests. Duceppe is a moderate leader who happens himself not to be pure laine. I love the Bloc b...
• Brusmit, You have hidden talents Brusmit. Too bad you have concentrated so much on a world of make believe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Prorogation wi...
• Brusmit, We have to move independently if we are to have any chance of winning. If we are seen by voters as a moving part -- even of an informal loose coa...
• Brusmit, Strictly a personal read. Remember, I thought Martin would barely pull it out in 2006...so it's worth whatever it's worth.
• Climate is Always Changing, Catchy. I suggest you read the graph in this week's Time magazine. The planet's warming trend is crystal clear.
• Climate is Always Changing, I wouldn't go there. Once the precedent is set...just call this a friendly piece of advice.
• Tamarac, Nixon warned from the grave. Too bad they were tone deaf. Now they will reap what they have sowed...
• Climate is Always Changing, You're entirely welcome. I wouldn't want you to get suspended...again!
• Brusmit, It's an interesting read. We will, from all parties, be thinking of the troops during the holidays. May the deity keep them safe and happy.
• Brusmit, Thanks. Are you still the only tank against the onslaught?!!! You must feel like the guys who took two years of incoming Conservative commerci...
• Why Can't This Board Go Silent???!!! Seesh. I can't believe I have to bring this up so close to Christmas. Why don't you guys put a damned cork in it for ...

Nanos National Poll - Healthcare reclaims top issue of concern over economy (2009-11-24)

• Hollinm, Political life in Canada does not inevitably reduce itself to the following equation: Conservatives, GOOD; Liberals, very, very BAD indeed. Please ...
• Speed Test, Didn't Brusmit tell you that breaking promises is the only common heritage shared by both the Liberal and Conservative parties in Ottawa. Even ...
• Speed Test, DEFINITION: Economist Nine people in a room, each with a different opinion, and coincidentally, none of them correct... (serves any government ...
• Speed Test, Trouble ahead! Admitting that the Conservatives are mean and dishonest. Your problem is that you are too honest by nature. No wonder you're not...
• Bernie, We're getting an extremely well deserved drubbing at the Commonwealth Summit. Long overdue in my book. Canada is an environmental pariah under this ...
• Brusmit, My word. Who would have thought that politicians, of all political stripes, would even entertain the notion of putting what is politically expedien...
• Robini, Two mandates under your belt and still no majority. Sounds like a well established political trend to me!
• Brusmit, Nice smear against the "security guard". Perhaps you would be good enough to tell all of us under which government he was promoted and posted to Wa...
• Hollinm, Me thinks he doth anticipate too much.
• Brusmit, Thank you. Actually, I have three legal balls in the air at the same time (in addition to my other work)...so far, one outright win, one unpleasant...
• Brusmit, Fair enough. Point taken.
• Pollfan, I'm cautious but I do love gravity! You know how it goes: what goes up, inevitably goes down and vice-versa. My money is not on the Conservatives ...
• Brusmit, What pollfan said. You're seasoned enough to know what's coming even if Harper wins next time. We're just waiting for you to candidly admit it. Tha...
• Brusmit, The generals and the ambassador were credible. I'm still looking for Colvin's paper trail. Too bad this government is dead set against allowing him...
• Pollfan, Reality means no substantive policy, no possibility of an election win. IF they STILL don't get that in the OLO, Peter is in for one hell of a roug...
• Pollfan, Most Canadians like a level playing field, information wise. This is clearly not that and Canadians can and surely will judge this matter accordingly.
• Pollfan, We will continue to do what we can toward that noble goal.
• Brusmit, A good strategist never says die.
• Justice Needs A Refresher Course. They happen to be called Justice Canada. Could have fooled me. Strange, how Minister Nicholson is silent on this one, he w...
• Hey Brusmit, Thanks to The Star and Pollfan, it appears that you've got a rather large bird to digest. But take comfort in knowing that this too -- shall ev...
• Brusmit, Nice deflection. We're talking Afghan detainees while you're talking interpreting polling data.
• The Heat Is On...And It's WORKING... Nice of this Prime Minister to quickly change his tune and suggest that he'll be working toward a "comprehensive agreem...
• Brusmit, Address me directly and you will probably get an answer to your so-called "challenges". Thanks.
• Pollfan, If anyone thinks they can stamp out Liberals, they are in la la land. We're a party of surprises -- unpleasant ones await this government.
• Pollfan, Am I the only one who sees a pattern here? Somehow I doubt it. Nothing was done until pressure became too much to bear...reminds me of another sit...
• Brusmit, To others, but not directly to me today.
• Hollinm, The Prime Minister might want to consider breaking the logjam this way. Provide it to PCs who previously sat in a Liberal cabinet with a signed wri...
• Brusmit, As regards pre-2006, of course, that period was also one of benign neglect. One cannot fault the Conservative government while not owning up to one...
• Hollinm, It's a trade off decision isn't it? You have to choose the lesser of two evils -- the one that will put less of a hole in your voter support. Eithe...
• Direct answer. a) Because when something is working for you, you don't spray your own people with your own fire if you happen to be the commanding general. ...
• Brusmit, Careful, you're starting to sound overconfident. Just ask Napoleon how that tends to pan out.
• Brusmit, It must be nice to have something to fall back on should your life suddenly find itself changing directions! L'état c'est moi, said the Sun King. ...
• Brusmit, Focus, please. He did not antagonize Martin, he deliberately antagonized the PPG from Day One of his government. He needlessly made countless enemi...
• Brusmit, Warren has countless reserves of his talent which he has yet to unleash upon the unsuspecting. Stay tuned for further and fast-paced developments!
• Brusmit, We each have our crosses: we need to win the big ONE while you guys need to win BIG. Guess which one is more likely?!
• Average Canadian, Those that boast the loudest have much to be modest about...fits the Conservatives like a glove.
• Brusmit, Why don't you bring me up to speed on the elected Senate, that perennial favourite of all persons Western. Just where does it stand right now? I'l...
• Brusmit, Yes he has. Since I have enormous respect for the incoming G-G, I will only use that person's first initial: D. I try not to sleep my way through ...
• Africon, We agree to disagree. (And yes I did buy as much of Encana as I could prior to the upcoming split.) I won't mind taking a beating, to some extent, ...
• Brusmit, Last time I bothered to check myself out, I was at least somewhat pleased with what I saw but it's not polite to brag. Please forgive me!
• Brusmit, What you've added fascinates me. Let's take it one step further. If the provinces have "little will" to elect senators, the obvious question is why...
• Heaven sent, Nice moniker by the way...I hope you live up to it! HS, I don't know. I'm torn over Senate reform or abolition. I like a second chamber as a p...
• Heaven sent, ? Please elaborate. Thanks.
• Heaven sent, Does that mean that we suddenly have several Liberal journalistic hacks masquerading as Conservatives in the Senate? I guess Harper is in for ...
• Heaven sent, We have quite a glut in gas. Most of it is headed into storage. Translation: falling gas prices which to my mind means accumulation stage. Then...
• Brusmit, Can I ever relate to the second part. Sorry to hear that. In my own case, it took place when I was 43 (also five years ago). It was an internal hem...
• Brusmit, I got to see the O'Dowd Fountain without investing a dime in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Brusmit, Well, if authentic, it does not exactly bolster Colvin's argument. The guy is not an idiot. That suggests that something else, of a major nature, r...
• Brusmit, I like it. It's based both on conservative caution AND out of the box thinking. It is one hell of an interesting mix. It would be nice if support f...
• Brusmit, Agreed that for now, the ice is getting thinner.
• Consertative Supporter, Canadians are fair. They don't like the idea of retired guys testifying with the benefit of secret documents while an active public ...
• Consertative Supporter, Probably because they've seen how this government has conducted itself since 2006...
• Bernie, At least I'm better than the Harper government. I know absolutely nothing about the CFL. They, on the other hand, know zip about how to address the ...
• Hollinm, I differ with Michael on some issues but that is nothing compared to my differences with the Prime Minister. Stephen Harper has every right to take...
• Hollinm, This is an extremely painful period for me as someone who wanted to go last May. (Privately, but not publicly.) I thought Chrétien's arguments were...
• Hollinm, To be perfectly frank, I'm not pushing this for potential political traction because as you say, there just isn't any. Voters believe that pocketbo...
• Hollinm, At this juncture, this seems to be a small legs story. No question about it.
• Hollinm, This is the first time in my political life, such as it is, that I'm totally mystified. I could not offer any competent or enlightened advice to my...
• No Brusmit. I'm simply saying that the entire world may be in for another leg down. I hope not. If it does, no blame will rest with Canadians or their govern...
• Brusmit, Are you sure that everything is out? I have my doubts. But yes, I could be mistaken.
• Brusmit, We've had our moments. Some good, some not, but in our case I don't really think either one of us really STARTED it. Either one of us said somethin...
• Brusmit, When I wrote that I was not referring in any way to anything you said. I was referring to the fact that you didn't fall off the turnip truck yester...
• Brusmit, We are equally guilty: W.K. and who can forget D.E. ...
• Brusmit, Then let me modify it: you are a seasoned retired professional.
• Congratulations Bernie and Pollfan!
• Brusmit, I will not argue your point as it has merit.
• Brusmit, Well said.
• Brusmit, If 100% of the tranferees fall into this category, it can't help but affect the opposition's tact on the detainee question. It is without a doubt a...
• Brusmit, The plot thickens. Glad that I'm not fronting for any side on this mess.
• Brusmit, Do you wholeheartedly agree with this comment from Hollinm?: "Ronald....whether you realize it or not Harper is protecting the country from the en...
• Brusmit, It's a good thing you never considered comedy as a career choice!
• Brusmit, Interesting response. It has quite a deferential quality...
• Brusmit, Ain't being a private citizen grand! I don't have to clear my personal views with anyone -- not my party, not my leader. Refreshing isn't it.
• Brusmit, Personally, I love it when the Prime Minister makes unvarnished comments...it shows all of Canada how truly special that man is!
• Brusmit, I happen to sing extremely well, thank you. But no one knows any better cause Conservatives keep suggesting that as a Liberal, I can't CARRY a tune...
• Brusmit, Just so you know. I'm going beddy bye now. Suffering from a bad case of jet lag (minus the jet). I hope to get to your expected responses later to...
• Brusmit, Correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that I only posted this question about Hollinm's views once.
• Brusmit, a) You and me brother... b) You guys have my blessing to stumble all the way to the spring. Knock yourselves out, please! (At least you're in bet...
• Brusmit, Frankly, my efforts are mostly ineffective. However, I suspect I could belt them out pretty well in the National Capital. But as we both know, no o...
• Brusmit, I'm going to put aside my political affiliation before I respond: the opposition parties and the government are playing an exceedingly dangerous ga...
• Brusmit, Avec mes compliments! http://www.munkdebates.com/organizers/
• Brusmit, Please Brusmit -- Andrew Coyne is many things -- none of which includes a Liberal!
• Brusmit, You're ONLY 50% there. Kindly take ownership of the government's mishandling of this issue and you'll finally and honestly get to 100%.
• Brusmit, I certainly would. Perhaps this will jog your memory: http://andrewcoyne.com/2006/01/let-bloodletting-begin-tory-edition.php January 24, 2006 Le...
• Ursus, Please allow me to say that it is my fervent wish that you stick around here -- in more ways than one. You will give Brusmit a run for his money and ...
• Heasmit, I can quite honestly say with complete candor that your husband is one of a kind around here...Welcome to the other Dragon's Den.
• Heasmit, I, too, could ALMOST vote Conservative.
• Brusmit, Believe it or not, I actually was able to follow that! I think.
• Brusmit, Again, allow me to focus in: 'Here, then, for greater ease of purging, is the complete list of Conservatives "asking for Stephen Harper's resignat...
• Brusmit, I've always believed that like Harry Truman ( a great Taurus and role model for yours truly) that you COULD take the heat in the kitchen. Are you t...
• Brusmit, You must have missed it. My last performance as a Conservative took place on 31 December 2008. Apparently, it was rather flat and left the audience...
• Good Night Brusmit. Remember to keep sharpening that sword.
• Brusmit, Come on, you know every one of us went straight onto the black list. I suspect that still shades their opinion of the Prime Minister! (As a ca...
• Heasmit, I wouldn't dream of it.
• Typical Conservative, Forgive us if those of us who are skeptical of this Prime Minister continue to forge ahead. The only person whom I take on faith res...
• Heasmit, I hope this Prime Minister is smart enough to follow your wise counsel.
• Brusmit, I can't speak for the others, of course, but in my case I wasn't dumped. I was the dumpor rather than the dumpee. A minor point I grant you.
• Brusmit, I see your sword IS razor sharp.
• Brumit, We might as well drop it while we're both ahead...it seems the more I write on the subject, the more I potentially confuse both of us. My apologies!
• Prime Minister: Put Up Your Dukes! As a public service, not wanting our number one man to be caught off guard in foreign climes, I thought I would offer our...
• Brusmit, That's pure unadulterated BS and the overall body of scientific evidence will confirm it as such. I know you guys are desperate on this file (wit...
• Brusmit, It was my view and it remains so that the Governor-General was on solid legal ground when she reached her decision. Too bad for those of us who s...
• Brusmit, Thank you. Isn't life ironic how one can make one's name and destroy it -- all in the same day. Agree to generally held constitutional princi...
• Brusmit, It's none of the above. We all have a legitimate right to our opinion on climate change, flawed though it may be. The pure unadulterated BS refers ...
• Brusmit, No one is denying that there is monkey business here. The world will follow the investigation with great interest. Again, I'm sticking to my guns a...
• Brusmit, Thanks for the link. This is your lucky day! You are about to witness the most heart felt post that I've ever written on Nik on the NUMBERS: first...
• Brusmit, Let me make it easy for you: if the entire body of scientific evidence that has been accumulated since the 1980s is totally discredited, yes, yes, ...
• Brusmit, I can't and don't speak for Michael. Personally, I'll let the leader deal with the former in any way he sees fit. As for the latter, funny, but I h...
• I G N A T I E F F. That's how you spell victory in the next federal election. Michael may be low in the polls now but that will change as surely as night fo...
• Brusmit, Sorry, I did not realize that you meant Keith Martin.
• Brusmit, We both can be rather passionate on our issues...apologies if you took it personally. But you know me rather well by now. I'm not about to back dow...
• Brusmit, Unfortunately, that is precisely the point. The way things are going both of us are likely to be there. We both are aware that the sea ice in the A...
• Brusmit, Let me put it this way. The best interests, electoral or otherwise, of a political party are taken or decided with a level head. I'm for clear, rea...
• Brusmit, I might as well candidly admit that discussing your latest point in further detail is well above my pay grade. I will have to leave that to others.
• Copenhagen. What will be the end result? a) hard targets for GHG reductions; b) continued focus on aspirational targets; c) complete paralysis -- with no...
• Brusmit, If you talk with the PM today, please tell him for me to send his stylist up NORTH. That guy could really use some help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
• Brusmit, There is no actual recent picture. You'd have to go to stock footage, if you know what I mean...and about whom. (Off to bed now for me. Must refre...
• Morning Brusmit, This will come as no surprise to you -- but even a herd of elephants won't move me off my position. Michael is the leader, and as such, h...
• To Whom It May Concern, One more minor point. Some people out there will argue that I'm a hypocrite. They will recall that Jamieson and yours truly moved ...
• Brusmit, Thanks again. I will let you know what I think sometime today (when I finally have a little time to give them the once over...).
• Brusmit, Read both. On the environment, I'm looking for the three-time award winner to do something to break the log jam. Surely, we can manage in some way ...
• Africon, I would put it to you that coat-tails only work when you're moving forward in a positive direction. In short, if Obama chooses not to swim -- he ...

The public opinion environment for Canadian-American relations (2009-11-19)

• Cooperation Without Integration. Some of you will be aware that Canada and the United States have tried many things in the past to smooth out the rough edge...
• Like Richard Nixon, It Seems We'll Very Soon Be Learning The Lesson The "HARD" Way. In the words of the man himself: "It's not the act that kills you. It's...
• The Political Constants In My Universe. As some of you know, I'm into my third political incarnation -- having gone from Progressive Conservative to Conserv...
• Brusmit, If you think we are a relatively low priority on the American radar (witness the recent performances of Janet Napolitano and John McCain), just wai...
• Brusmit, "Well" , as Ronnie would say! (I just couldn't resist.), you'll no doubt recall when I was pushing this government to play the energy card in respo...
• Brusmit, Surely you're not telling me that this PM is going to use our energy exports as leverage vis-à-vis Buy American. That is my understanding of the si...
• Brusmit, Perhaps you analysis of the effectiveness of that tactic is correct but hey, rattling their chain would certainly go some way in enhancing their co...
• Brusmit, But we are BOTH great guys! Just ask anyone who happens to know us.
• Brusmit, Sorry, no. But weren't the last two specialized? Wasn't one on the gun registry or am I mixing up polling companies?
• Brusmit, Perhaps I should try to get through to the PM so we can get you onto the negotiating team. Good one! (I'll bet more than one person in Ottawa woul...
• RRR, My concern is with process more than with outcome. I can live with something short of a public inquiry. I don't like the committee structure. As for o...
• RRR, I don't know about that. One should never look a gift horse in the mouth, especially a secured supply gift horse. Personally, I'm against withdrawal o...
• Brusmit, Thank you. (I'm slowly and inevitably going down hill, even at 48. It ain't easy being a fifth column of one!)
• Lex, I would also put Australia in that boat.
• Africon, Normally one would think that would present us with a strategic advantage -- but more knowledgeable people than myself have convinced me that we ca...
• Brusmit, You must by now have a pretty good idea of whom you're facing on this board. I would think THAT question answers itself. But the short answer is Y...
• Conservative Supporter, Our ideas about crime and punishment are deeply flawed. The two prevailing tendencies aren't nearly as effective as what is really...

Conservative lead continues, Harper widens best PM advantage: Nanos Poll (Completed November 10th) (2009-11-14)

• Brusmit. We will hold our fire until spring. Watch what happens then!
• Hollinm, Watch Peter. His time in the job will be memorable for Conservatives -- but not quite in the way they are hoping for!
• Eternally Optomistic, In short, NOPE. Warren is the crème de la crème in the war room. No one is more committed to the Liberal Party. Warren will make mince...
• Harper: In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time! Poor Prime Minister. Out in Singapore, India and China when he should really be in the U.S. preparing to sit d...
• Polls Dont Count, You think so. We will prove otherwise. Just stay tuned.
• Polls Dont Count, It's Conservatives who are due for a rude awakening. And the best part -- they can't even conceive of its coming. As we say in French, "la...
• Polls Dont Count, Last time I checked, all your hopes were riding on one man. He managed to make it into office didn't he...
• Polls Dont Count, Is that the first indication of panic spreading across your keyboard? Not sufficiently clever as a retort.
• Polls Dont Count, Remember, hope springs eternal but so does determination!
• Polls Dont Count, Don't tell me, YOU'VE also left the Conservatives. Not a chance!
• The Pleasures Of Singapore. A tale of two guys -- one stuck in boring meetings while the other is free to roam across the countryside, blading to his heart'...
• Polls Dont Count, We are as one on this point.
• Laurie58, McKenna is a team player who has demonstrated his loyalty to the leader.
• Twiens, I'm no expert but I'm for at least a partial proportional representation system. I like majority governments but not oversized ones à la Mulroney. ...
• Hollinm, With respect, surely you can't deny that prior to 2006, our Prime Minister couldn't give away glasses of water in the central Canadian desert...cal...
• Hollinm, Smears and spin are the life blood of Canadian politics as presently practiced by all the parties. It's kind of hard not to notice...
• Hollinm, Surely you do not begrudge us because we keep plugging. Someone has to take you guys on.
• Hollinm, Did someone forget to tell this Prime Minister that it's small consolation stacking the Senate before you lose control of the Commons?! The electi...
• Hollinm, You'll have a better chance if you stick to present issues and controversies. Goes to reason, don't you think?
• Hollinm, Ha, ha! This Prime Minister is the real McCoy all right. I'm counting on that. He is rather predictable. No more advanced chess moves left for the ...
• Hollinm, I particularly like the way you put that: "protect Canada's interest on climate change." Forgive me, but it was my impression that this government ...
• Hollinm, The humble pie is baking. I plan to put Conservative icing on it! (Nice logo.)
• Tom, Respectfully, what strong message? The Conservatives got Cumberland-Colchester back in the fold after treating Casey like shit. Doesn't say much about ...
• Polls Dont Count, The knives will stay in their sheaths. We're in this game to form government. You know that. Were we to conduct an unseemly internecine wa...
• Polls Dont Count, Amateur acting does not behoove you...you need to take lessons. (Now, this Prime Minister. That's an actor of the highest calibre! Ask for...
• Polls Dont Count, I'm for Warren giving it the good old college try!
• Brusmit, I could debate with you but alas, I prefer to offer advice elsewhere. But quite candidly, I will admit that your offer is extremely tempting.
• Brusmit, You seem to have failed to notice the undergrowth of undecided that is thickening in the forest...
• Hollinm, Apparently, unlike you, I have faith in the companies I hold. I believe in their capacity to adapt to changing environmental circumstances. I also ...
• Hollinm, Forget trying to use Martin's record in today's political environment.
• Hollinm, Point one: yours truly was very much aware of the strong and effective business relationship between the PM and Doer. (That same relationship exist...
• Brusmit, Nice display of political confidence.
• Brusmit, I can understand how those numbers inspire such confidence in Conservatives. For our part, we will do whatever we can to shake that confidence for ...
• Brusmit, The Best PM Question is MEANINGLESS. We both know that. We have an incumbent government that is coasting along but basically standing pat (other th...
• Polls Dont Count, I'm so rich that I light my cigars with dollar bills. Please. I'm sure Irving and Doug are extremely sorry to hear that!
• Polls Dont Count, Public relations is not your strong suit, is it...better stick to your present job which at least you are rather good at.
• Tom, As always, your analysis is both excellent and farsighted. However, with respect, I find your conclusion as to a subsequent Harper "small majority" som...
• Brusmit, We Liberals are a giving fountain. And we will continue to bring forth the waters.
• Brusmit, Give your head a shake. Does the phrase tested versus as yet untested mean anything to you? Harper has a track record in government which inspires...
• Brusmit, That certainly is one man's opinion. I prefer to look at it as adversity from which opportunity can spring.
• Brusmit, For the sake of reasoned argument I will withdraw the former. As to the latter, it is in no way offensive to you or anyone else. It is a core princ...
• Tom, There goes my political career in Ottawa...but Michael is wrong to keep the platform under wraps until the election. It is our saving grace, our strong...
• Brusmit, One of us is right.
• Brusmit, Wasn't that James Bond? Perhaps not.
• Brusmit, Since you are in unusually fine form today, I have a question for you concerning Remembrance Day: I understand why Viet Nam is not inscribed on ou...
• Same to you.
• Hollinm, We are a federation. It would not be right for Alberta to take a major hit (or any other province or territory) for doing what is required to help ...
• Brusmit, Because I figured you would be both smart and considerate enough to respond. It has always puzzled me. I hope that someone does something to rectif...
• Thanks! But this is a job for MacKay, Thompson and their officials and staff.
• Hollinm, No sir. We are talking about global environmental sustainability. Move me to Edmonton or Calgary and I will still be making the same arguments. It'...
• Polls Dont Count, I will not defend Ontario's record. That's McGuinty's job. One can put manufacturing jobs ahead of the environment. That is not a choice t...
• Brusmit, Your conclusion logically flows from your premise. But let me take a stab at it nonetheless: I suspect that Canadians see us turning the corner on...
• Now you've done it Brusmit -- gotten me started on the registry! I support both the long and short gun registry. Quite obviously, I'm not a hunter and fortu...
• Bernie, It's clear that Ottawa does not want the whole story to come out for national security reasons. We are too busy protecting the intelligence operatio...
• Hollinm, Thank God we have honest to goodness Conservatives in their war room who would never in a million years stoop to smearing, lying, duplicity, red he...
• Brusmit, I hope you remembered to check whether you were building in an earthquake zone. They've been know to happen in Canada, don't you know!
• Bernie, I prefer a Canadian trial. What will happen in front of the military tribunal is anyone's guess. I'm not comfortable with that highly dubious venue....
• Tom, Like Buffet and his newly acquired railway (sorry Warren, railroad!), you have to be "all-in" if a new Senate is to be constructed from the ground up. ...
• Brusmit, I will concede one point to you. No matter if the Lord or Jesus came down and asked this government to repatriate Khadr, the answer would still be ...
• Brusmit, Both parties, quite obviously. It's a question of degree: when you are relatively error-free you rise AND THEN MAINTAIN. You don't drop or even dip...
• Brusmet, Here comes one hell of a compliment: you are a much braver man than yours truly. I would never take that risk. I would rather make a deal with Queb...
• Bernie, Welcome to the world of truisms in Canadian politics: All citizens and residents are forever in favour of increased rights, freedoms, enhanced demo...
• Brusmit, OK - read this later. If you mean past Liberal governments, of course you're correct. But Michael is not yet in government. A minor distinction bu...
• Tewchip, To be perfectly frank, income trusts is not a good example for either Conservatives or Liberals. Both governments flip-flopped, plain and simple. ...
• Tewchip, We will agree to disagree on this one.
• Tewchip, I'm off to work. Coming to the aid of someone with a kind heart who helped his neighbour and got screwed. (I guess nice guys do finish last.) In s...
• Tewchip, I will, when I get back. Have a nice day.
• Tewchip, Someone is indeed suffering from a serious wound but unfortunately, it was self-inflicted. It's one thing to clear the air and say the things that...
• Hollinm, Let me ask you a question. Do you consider what is likely to be proved as a terrorist act on 9-11-01 a war crime? I know I do. And yet the master...
• Hollinm, Another fine case of the pot calling the kettle black...
• Hollinm, What is really important is a question of degree. We will no doubt disagree as to which party has taken it to a new level. You know which one I'd...
• Hollinm, I will not dismiss your points. My point is we can do better and we should. If the Conservatives can't go the whole nine yards, can't they at lea...
• Brusmit, Neither you or I happen to be Warren Kinsella. In other words, neither of us will follow the course of action which you CLAIM Kinsella previously...
• Lex, Agreed but will the NDP number hold up in a campaign? Somehow I doubt it -- even if Jack announced his retirement prior to the spring.
• Brusmit, My number has nothing to do with Nanos or any other poll. I'm going with the percentage of voters who cast ballot for opposition parties in the r...
• Tom, Excellent post. I'm for equal Senate seats for every province and territory, like the U.S. Senate - if we are starting from scratch.
• Lex, If you do, we are all indebted to you. Thanks.
• Hollinm, I don't like it when any party chooses to sink really low, mine or otherwise. As for "we Americans", doesn't it sound to you like the comment ...
• Brusmit, I merely singled out the CPC for the period 2004-2008 because they are the governing party. I'm not disputing Nik's numbers in this particular p...
• Hollinm, That's certainly not how I would choose to frame it. But you have a right to draw your own conclusions...
• Brusmit, Thank you! Brusmit, your opinion on something else -- you know how I'm constantly pushing this government on climate change...to at least star...
• Africon, DOING NOTHING means continually harping on the lack of a past Liberal record. I don't care about Liberal inaction or Conservative inaction. I care ...
• Africon, My, my, did you also feel a nerve being struck! Look Africon, get this through your head. The next election could very well be a strategic voting e...
• Brusmit, Let's stick to general principles on this OK? Do you agree with me that it's the responsibility of the Canadian government, regardless of its polit...
• Brusmit, Fair enough. We are very much in agreement on several points. I want those mentioned in Colvin's testimony in committee to hear their side of the...
• Brusmit, You seem to like mine a lot more than I like yours! Thanks. But in all seriousness, I apologize and will try to be more diligent in the future.
• Brusmit, No, no. Sorry. It's yours truly who hasn't been clear. I thought you were referring to some of the previous questions, on other days, that I left...
• Hollinm, You aren't smug or overconfident. Too bad other Conservatives, many of them in the House, do not reflect your gentlemanly attitude. (Remember the...
• Angus Reid and Ipsos Reid Polls: Something Bad For Just About Everyone... What strikes me in general terms about Angus Reid, Ipsos Reid (and Ekos before the...
• Africon, Unlike you, I don't expect a split decision on the moderate to left-wing of the political spectrum. Party fortunes wax and wane but when push comes...
• Africon, Isn't it extremely fortunate for you that you don't happen to have a web page under your own name...otherwise you would be in scalding water after ...
• Africon, Politics in full of surprises. Of all people, you should know that.
• "Well", as Ronnie would say, to call the Father of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms "a disaster for the country" is at least over the top in my b...
• Brusmit, Huh? What does Dief's Bill of Rights have to do with any of this? Nothing. This is a discussion about a personal attack made on Trudeau. My point i...
• Brusmit, Let's be clear shall we? Diefenbaker is father of a Bill of Rights. That is indeed the first major piece of legislation in this area. Yes it preced...
• RRR, We'll both learn something when the election rolls around.
• RRR, No matter who happens to be in power, parliamentary committees sooner or later eventually revert to their true calling of showboating venue and occasio...
• Brusmit, If only I had an economics degree in order to be able to spar further on this point. Since I don't, I will concede the matter to you.
• Brusmit, We weren't yelling. That only happens when we capitalize all of the words in our respective sentences. You and I have what I could categorize as a ...
• Brusmit, As they say in the West, I know when I'm licked. I could start researching but without any level of personal expertise it would be quite an uphill ...
• Open Season For Comments! What do you think of CDS Walter Natynczyk's comments that Afghan prisoner transfers were stopped more than once -- contrary to wha...
• Brusmit, Very informative. Thanks.
• Eternally Optomistic, In Canada, for everything except going to the bathroom, we have to break a few eggs and we sure did.
• Brusmit, I love the Charter and thank God for it. But you know how human nature is -- if it had been the CPC in power and it found itself having to settle...
• Elf, They thought JFK would be good. He turned out only to be fast!
• Lex, Excellent post. Do you agree with me that because these people are going somewhere, it's reasonable based on past voting patterns (granted in the abs...
• Brusmit, Takes one to know one! What about the detentions? I'm stuck at the office. (Yipee...)
• Brusmit, Thanks! In front of committee is turning out to be a complete waste of time and energy. Both sides are more interested in scoring points then ...
• Brusmit, What a joke! Each side is posturing for the cameras: we both know this Prime Minister -- the guy is doing everything but personally taking potenti...
• Brusmit, Doesn't take a genius to know who moved heaven and earth to authorize this "leak". A nice piece of advanced chess strategy. Skillfully thought out ...
• Brusmit, Correct me if I'm wrong but it's my distinct impression that Colvin can't take even a restricted document out of his briefcase. He needs permission...
• Brusmit, Yes they have been known to happen. Go figure. The only thing that can extend this is what falls under the category of unforeseen variables from u...

Nanos Policy Options Poll – Canadians overwhelmingly support universal health care; think Obama is on right track in United States (2009-11-06)

• So Thoroughly Disgusted. That just about sums it up about the current turn of events in Quebec. Yes, it's enough to quite literally turn my stomach. As...
• Brusmit, See you. (Unless I happen to drop dead.)
• HC in AB, Who knows...but my job is still to be a thorn and I intend to live up to it! Happy Holidays to all.
• Hollinm, Thank you. Let me put out two scenarios for you: with turnout at 37% in Montmagny, we both know that Conservative voters can't be beat when it co...
• Brusmit, Well, neither of us will be foolish enough to take that article to the bank...as we've agreed in the past, the death of the Bloc -- we'll both re...
• Ron's Miracle Anti-Depression Cure! Do I know something about politics or what? This should make me boat loads of money: are you feeling blue? Are politic...
• Bernie, I may not be a social democrat but I agree with you that there is one hell of a lot of needless suffering out there...the unfortunate and the disa...
• Elf, Back in the Stone Age, I wrote a prize winning essay on assisted suicide. (I was against it but even then I said that was easy for me since "I was no...
• Elf, Exceedingly well said. One proviso, we're dealing with leaders and not saints -- former PMs got down in the mud even in our party... Michael is be...
• Bernie, Brusmit strikes me as rather stressed out at the moment. He seems to have a lot on his plate right now. He should get some badly needed sleep. ...
• Brusmit, You seem to have a funny idea of what truly is an insult. IF you consider my remarks an insult, from now on all I'll do is ask you how the weathe...
• Lex, It's a good thing you're not running for office. Your analysis strikes me as rather dispassionate and cold. No offense intended.
• Brusmit, Unlike at least one other poster on this board I KNOW how to apologize. Quite obviously, you have taken offense. Therefore I unreservedly apologize...
• Brusmit, You make far too much of so-called Liberal disarray and internal plotting. Naturally, in your shoes, I might be sorely tempted to do the same. Wa...
• Brusmit, You amuse me when you deliberately go out of your way not to face reality. You are among the most politically sophisticated on this board. (Another...
• Brusmit, Liberals get it. Stay unified or prepare for eternity in opposition. It really is as simple as that. Just ask Bob. He knows instinctively how to pr...
• Brusmit, Keep propelling the myth and gloom-doom scenario. After all, it just so happens to be in your own best interest, political and otherwise. What a st...
• Brusmit, That's the great thing about being the official opposition. Nothing like doing the job.

Nanos National Poll: Conservatives widen advantage over Grits: Nanos Poll (Completed October 18th) (2009-10-22)

• All Is "Right" In The World! I'm all for genuine peace, love and harmony. I always thought that making up is, just like the song says, hard to do...but appa...
• Lady Macbeth for President... The runoff is coming in Kabul and across the country in two weeks. Afghan President Hamid Karzai strikes me as a man with few ...
• So Close And Yet Quite Fortunately, So Far! The political gods seem to be with us - smile Michael. Try as he might, this Prime Minister can't find the magic...
• HC in AB, I'm shocked to discover that some people in Alberta see Michael as a pretend cowboy. In Quebec, we see Stephen as a pretend defender of the Quebec...
• Tom, I take a stab at it on my blog, if you're interested.
• Syl, The idea that a prime minister, of any political stripe, can get a sustained and significant bump up in the polls just because he "presided" over the O...
• Brusmit, Part I: The only interesting part: "...were an election to be held today,..." Gee, sorry about that! Talk to me about the polls come spring. Part...
• Whirlwind, Glad to see you back. This place hasn't quite been the same since your absence. Look forward to continuing crossing swords with you.
• NL_Expatriate, Agreed. But at least we will eventually enjoy a pleasant change -- when eventual demographics shift the Tyranny of the majority population ov...
• Please, Allow Me! Due to unseasonably warm weather which has generated considerable unforeseen heat, perhaps I can help by unloading a troublesome bridge ov...
• Hollinm, Jack is already gone. Michael has to win at least a minority while Stephen must win a majority. Thought I would keep it simple! Anything less and t...
• Fun With A Wildrose! This Prime Minister doesn't want to talk about it -- in fact, the word has gone out to keep it shut. No wonder. Wildrose seems to be an...
• Put A Spade In Their Hands...And They KEEP Digging For The Next Bonehead Play. Perhaps some time off would help because this one won't be pretty. Witness th...
• But Lex, that's precisely the point. I WANT them to do something foolish! I'm for destabilizing this government. Anything that could possibly contribute towa...
• Anti China, I hate to break it to you but I've voted for JC! (Before I joined the PCs.) You remember how popular this Prime Minister was when he was Allianc...
• Michael, I don't want to denigrate anyone but thank you for doing what had to be done. Welcome aboard Peter! We look forward to the turnaround. I suspect ...
• Brusmit, You forgot to address the issue of lawyer-client privilege!
• Brusmit, I'm actually impressed. You've been extremely thorough. I've rarely seen this PMO more effectively engaged in damage control... Thank God the PMO'...
• Brusmit, Unrelated: If you happen to run into CanadianSense please remind him that the dating poll is flawed. They forgot the most important category which ...
• Brusmit, Thank you but we're talking different fruit. I was referring to CanadianSense's whom would you like to date poll (president or prime minister). As ...
• Brusmit, I think actions speak louder than words. Michael has every confidence in Peter. That means that Bob is on board regarding this appointment. That al...
• Brusmit, Like you, I don't deny PAST facts! (I'm not saying your version of same is 100% gospel but conversely, I'm also not saying that your version is 100...
• Something To Bear In Mind. Richard: Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this son of York; And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our h...
• Quebec Votes Today In Municipal Elections. You know me. I like to take a stab at things -- to go with my gut feeling and see how it turns out! So here it g...
• Syl, You should see the latest body language coming from Gérald Tremblay. It doesn't strike me as that of a winner. I think he's blown it -- and that he kno...
• Syl, I have an occasional habit of working against my own professional, political and personal interest and this comment won't be an exception. I entirely r...
• Syl, We are as one on that score!
• Syl, On this one I hope that you are right but call me skeptical. That is not how I would play it -- but I'm not the boss, so I will fall into line but ke...
• Hollinm, One theory I heard, which may have some merit, is that Bergeron was dismissed by many because of his peculiar theories about 9-11-01 and the heal...
• Hollinm, One more thing. The broom happened to do a lot of sweeping on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence river and elsewhere. Many incumbent mayors go...
• Tornado, Why do you keep changing names? You're among friends here!
• Hollinm, You will understand that it's our job to keep up the good fight. If the roles were reversed, you wouldn't do anything less, would you?
• Syl, This Prime Minister needs to have his head examined for congratulating Karzai. That government in Kabul is a complete farce: corrupt, ineffectual, ir...
• Brusmit, This was not a sit down interview. It was person in the street. How were the other people identified who happened to be interviewed? Context a...
• Brusmit, I'm rather generic on this at the moment. Let's wait before scheduling the execution for further developments, if you don't mind... I'll no do...
• Brusmit, For my part, I will be following it closely -- I hope none of the Conservatives showboating, eh, eh, I mean howling in righteous indignation will...
• Brusmit, You didn't exactly fall off the turnip truck yesterday...I've got a news flash for you - every politician, of every political stripe, plays polit...
• Brusmit, This isn't up there with Campbell's fatal error.
• Brusmit, Nuance...remember, Martin never authorized the airing of that ad but it did "run" on newcasts.
• Hollinm, I will be equally clear - I want all civilians out, CIDA included in 2011. Time to go. That price is no longer worth paying (sustainable). As sur...
• Now Brusmit! First, I concede the point on the ad. I was not aware/did not recall about a similar ad running in Quebec. You've scored a point on that one....
• Agreed.
• Hollinm, Again, agreed. We are rather sympatico today. Here's hoping for more of the same via another channel!
• Brusmit, Respectfully, nice try. But you will probably agree with me that Canadian blood was not been spilled on a regular basis in China...to my mind, ou...
• Brusmit, We're suddenly talking apples and oranges again. One cannot equate conventional warfare (the World Wars) with the current conflict in Afghanistan...
• Brusmit, Perhaps not in your book but these factors are DIRECTLY relevant in mine. See you.
• Hollinm, Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't we been in Afghanistan since 2001-02? I know we first went in under Chrétien. (I know I should Google it but ...
• Hollinm, Perhaps I'm really living in a fool's paradise (as Brusmit has implied) but I want us to get out of our aid committment ASAP. Who cares if the UN...
• My apologies -- forgot the Dutch.

Nanos National Poll - Canadians don't want a fall election; Majority preferred but minority expected (Completed September 11) (2009-10-01)

• The Medical Diagnosis Is Finally In. The Pension Democrats: present in their seats but brain dead...
• The Silence Is Deafening. You'll notice that Conservatives are quite good at following orders -- those that don't stick with the program soon discover what ...
• Conservatives: Give Senator Don Plett A Call! Once you get over the shock of reading today's paper, ask Don what he thinks. For those of you who missed it...
• Thanks Jack! I want to thank Jack and other Pension Democrats for the generous early Christmas present they've given to Liberals -- they of all people recog...
• Tommies, Of course, Canadians are Canadians, even when they vote Conservative!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I've done that a fair bit in the past MYSELF but I've l...
• Lex, Don't tell this Prime Minister. He's liable to flood the blog (like he did CTV National News!) with political tidbits...
• Lex, I was referring to "Just Visiting" which was more or less running in tandem with the EAC but far less frequently. Jack's ad is ridiculous consider...
• Lex, To carry your argument one step further: if you're right (and you may well be) we Liberals are in trouble. Strategic Counsel is the first of the bad ...
• Elf, But won't take make for a very gassy chamber? I don't know about you but I would tend to have some pity for his or her seat mates!
• Elf, I don't do sucking up, even to potential voters! That is a disqualifier. Jamieson can confirm that from the good old days. My favourite operator is E...
• The Two Most Well Massaged Words In The English Language: Conservative MAJORITY. I've got to hand it to this Prime Minister. The man is one clever operato...
• Lex, I don't want to preach regarding my own conclusions. Those who view these two issues as important should follow them closely and then draw their own co...
• Tommies, I'm not sad but yes, I'm concerned over recent developments. Of course the polls will come back especially given the fact that this Prime Minister ...
• Lex, You're getting good at making holes that I can drive a truck through. Did you learn that from our Prime Minister???!!! I oppose hate speech in par...
• Again, Lex, it may come to that but I prefer to look at procedural reform first -- surely we can ensure that the principles of natural justice are effectivel...
• Hollinm, Michael is the leader. He has to ACT like one. That means being absolutely ruthless with EVERYONE. He has to make sure that the drip, drip theory d...
• Bernie, I've never subscribed to the "hidden agenda" bullshit which I viewed and still do as desperate Chicken Little tactics. However, I'm deeply troubled ...
• Thank God For The Queen... Constitutional scholars rejoice! The debate is raging as to who is actually Canada's Head of State. The booming PMO reminds us th...
• Hollinm, Just think back what is was like for our Prime Minister when he was leader of the Alliance -- he was almost a pariah east of the lakehead...but as ...
• Hollinm, Agreed. The coming six months will be a watershed moment for at least one of us! May the better strategist win. I concede in advance that it may no...
• Hollinm, One more thing. You're underestimating Michael -- I can think back to Harper's Hippodrome speech in Quebec City in 2004 (later known as the Belgian...
• Tommies, Quite obviously, the Prime Minister found his groove in 2006...it took two years to win power. I don't expect anything less of Michael. He could qu...
• A Harper Thanksgiving? I know this is last minute and all but you know how the holidays are for spending quality time with the people who are most important...
• Elf, Is it your impression that the G-G won't be renewed? The last one had her term extended. Might not be a bad idea to try that solution again.
• Those Pesky Conservative Symbols... I wonder if this Prime Minister is about to send me a cheque -- after all, it seems everyone else is getting one respl...
• Elf, The smart thing would be to renew her. Harper's choice, given that he makes one, might turn out to be more telling than he originally intended. A wis...
• Lex, A lot of somebodies screwed up. Now watch as the hunt begins for the directives.
• Lex, Inspiring possible choice -- the Prime Minister's one-time boss. It's no secret that the relationship is good and mutually respectful but I wouldn't ca...
• Hollinm, To be perfectly frank, I find some merit in your argument but my overall sense is that it will cut both ways.
• Hollinm, This Prime Minister is a big fan of advance by incrementalism. Watch the numbers carefully. Something is beginning to brew in the heartland.
• Hollinm, We've both noticed considerable Conservative momentum in recent polls. I hope you don't mind but I'd rather not add to it!
• Hollinm, It could get even better if I opened my big mouth...
• Hollinm, There are things of interest which we could discuss but this is not one of them. You might want however to speak to my friend the senator. It cou...
• Hollinm, Rivard. He knows nothing about it so far but I want to use him as a go between. Thanks for your time. Have a nice weekend.
• Syl, The press is making the same mistake it made with Chrétien and even Harper. They are fools if they think they can write us off. Michael is in better...
• Think Laskin, Think Alberta Gambit. Apologies ahead of time to those who are about to read this post -- you might want to make an appointment with your doct...
• A Year Of Cognitive Dissonance. Welcome to Harper Day! You remember it well -- that's when the voting public returned this government with an increased mino...
• Michael, Election or no election, I'm looking for the platform. Does any reasonable person really think that a plank representing traditional Liberal values...
• Duffinator, I would say that we've reached a new level. This is much more of an ouch than an oops. First, Afghan prisoners being tortured after being handed...
• Duffinator, Would it not be more than ironic if alleged violations turn out to be against this government's own jewel in the crown -- the Accountability Act...
• Duffinator, No question heads will roll on this one. I doubt Peter's head will be on the block though. That would damage this government's credibility too m...
• Duffinator, One this point, we agree to disagree. One thing is certain. One of us is definitely right!
• Duffinator, You have categorized my position correctly. Think about it -- the crappy ads worked to define Dion and to some extent Michael. But they won't ha...
• Sorry, wrong vile. I'm starting to lose it...
• Reformer, You don't seem to be very keen on China. Let me tell you a little story. A while back I was madly in love with a woman. She was of a different eth...
• Alittlebirdie, Excellent post. CPC = RMS Titanic; FAA= Iceberg. Guess which one I'm laying odds on.
• Climate Change Act. Poor Jack. He's out in lala land if he thinks that this government will vote for the bill on Wednesday. However, I suspect it will have ...
• Ha! Ha! Jack has me over a barrel. My apologies to Jack. The vote on Wednesday is to DELAY the bill. That's what you get when you post without fact checking....
• Lex, Can you believe it, I actually forgot about his election announcement technique. Your points are well taken but you do agree with me that to do nothing...
• Lex, What is more incredible is that this government does not back the science which at this point strikes me as beyond legitimate scientific debate...the m...
• Ontario24, How anyone can support this government's environmental policy is beyond me. This government has no problem with playing Russian roulette with the...
• Thank You, Prime Minister. I want to thank our Prime Minister for taking the time to place a phone call to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Words fail me to e...
• Lex, Of course, you are absolutely right about the big emitters. It was my impression that the Big Four are FINALLY moving in the right direction. It was al...
• Lex, Call me patently irresponsible but I'd rather take my chances on the ground in Canada with the terrorists.
• Lex, It's rather comforting to know that you have our best interests close to your heart! Much appreciated.
• A Spring Election? The defining moment of this Parliament is likely to come this spring when the budget is tabled. The Athletes' and Olympics Party...oh sor...
• Brusmit, You're right, it will be interesting but not quite as interesting for Conservatives as it is now! Just call me Chrétien when it comes to political ...
• Brusmit, I know that Stock got it wrong about the direction of the river but let me put it this way: if a majority government was downriver from the Horsesh...
• A Message For The Prime Minister. You might want to consider getting the Health Minister to update Canadians on the status of Peramivir. For the benefit of ...
• Brusmit, I don't much care what Canadians want at any given time. At all times, the country has to come first. Conservatives believe it's in Canada's best i...
• Brusmit, My dear sir or madam, opinions are not facts! Election night returns are facts. Polls are polls, nothing more -- a mere snapshot in time. Agreed t...
• Brusmit, Those words are NOT a Liberal Party position. They are merely an O'DOWD position...
• Brusmit, Nice of you not to say p.....g contest at lunch time. Have a good one!
• Brumit, Try this one on for size: We will do absolutely nothing to be a good steward of our environment. We will put the private sector profit motive ahead...
• Brusmit, You always have to get the last word don't you. Rather telling. Must have something to do with the inferior nature of your environmental argument. ...
• Brusmit, Please allow me to replicate one of your most thoughtful quotes: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
• Brusmit, Please allow me to replicate one of your most thoughtful quotes: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
• Brusmit, My limitations may prove of some interest to you further down the political road.
• Lex, Agreed. Saving lives has to be Job One. I commend the Minister for her excellent work. Now, it's up to the PM to help get this particular duck in a row...
• Brusmit, You have a very high opinion of your capabilities. Why am I not surprised...in any event, you are certainly no Ronald Reagan (not even in your fond...
• Brusmit, Now if you want to be civil and discuss NANOS from yesterday and EKOS from this morning, I'm willing to oblige but for once in your life, you have ...
• Brusmit, Not that well informed so far. Have made only a cursory examination. Plan to address you post later today, if you're interested. Over and out, for...
• Brusmit, I think it's safe to say with complete credibility that this is indeed the new polling trend. For my part, I've seen enough polls to confirm it. To...
• Brusmit, Nanos: A five point Conservative lead in Ontario is an achievement. We can chip away at it somewhat but in my view, our main focus has to be the s...
• Lex, Doesn't each party have a federal charter? How would you classify it?
• Elf, Peter knows he has many talents politically but he also well knows the political "limitations" built into the system. He knows the Conservative Party j...
• Elf, Our friend is a worthy opponent. We will never make the mistake of underestimating him. We have much work to do but sooner or later we will be sufficie...
• Elf, Lex and I have an entente cordiale without World War I! Lex comes from Reform. I came from the PCP. We understand each other, most of the time. I'm a ...
• Brusmit, Nice one. You know we can't simply go left. Dion went left and lost. We need to pick up on the left but we also need to chip away at Harper to the ...
• Likewise. Regards.
• Who Is That Ronald O'Dowd? Who does that blowhard Ronald O'Dowd think he is? Boy, is he ever full of himself. Haven't seen that much hot air since the Hinde...
• Elf, I met Belinda several times. Like Harper she is a fighter. She should have stood and held her ground. I supported her leadership bid. But then again, a...
• Brusmit, A Liberal NPD merger is not on. That would be an indictment of the political center that is the glue in federal politics. That would ensure perpetu...
• Brusmit, I'm growing increasingly fond of you (in a political way)! Like me, you just keep on plugging. LOL.
• So Many Heads and No Available Crowns... What a sight for sore sighs...three men who would be king, each of them without access to a most coveted crown. T...

Nanos National Poll - Canadians prefer controlled stimulus; Harper scores well on issue management (Completed September 11) (2009-09-24)

• Tom, I'm very sorry to hear that you are coming around to Harper's position on the party political subsidy. As you may know, I left the Conservatives over t...
• Writching, Personally, I would rather drop dead than be governed by this Prime Minister with a majority mandate. Hopefully, as in the past, the voters thems...
• Hollinm, Wow, that must mean that I'm half-stupid!
• Nik, I feel sorry for those 64% of Canadians who prefer controlled stimulus to further improve our economy: this politically sophisticated Prime Minister, a...
• Malaise. A vague feeling of [political] discomfort. I don't like it one damned bit. I'm starting to get excited -- I'm already well beyond irritated. Hell, ...
• HC in AB, Is it fair to say that we are both in agreement that this funding will never make it to the deadline? Should we find ourselves: a) smack in the mi...
• Sorry. I only meant in jest that as a former Conservative, others might consider me half-stupid. Just trying to be funny but it appears that comedy is not my...
• HC in AB, We may be heading for a political wash -- in other words, Conservatives rise incrementally but strangely enough, so do Liberals as the soft NDP mo...
• HC in AB, A wise Conservative pundit once said we should watch out for the unexpected blunder. That could seal the campaign for one party and produce a smal...
• The Prince, Try studying the political tactics of Stephen Harper. They quickly teach you everything you need to know. If this Prime Minister wins a majority...
• Tewchip, Your point is well taken but I presume you will concede that as soon as the Pension Democrats establish a regular pattern of propping up the Harper...
• HC in AB, You're a fine strategist! If you're right that means no support for our Liberal motion for at least a year and perhaps a year and a half. This P...
• HC in AB, The other thing of course will be this government's relationship with the public service: are they on side, neutral or hostile. If it's the latt...
• Lex, We can debate the merits of stimulus per se as an effective economic tool. What interests me is which party is smart enough to use it effectively for...
• HC in AB, Well, that would depend on the bones -- and the quality of the dog...
• Lex, In the short term, there is no question that this Prime Minister wants a yes -- in the intermediate term, I suspect that the PM is wavering: he wants J...
• Tommies, "...and never signed anything to reverse it-...". Now there's an interesting thought.
• Tewchip, This Prime Minister is under no illusions about this minor and insignificant Liberal! He knows his people have better things to do than to waste ...
• Elf, I posted a while back on Reagan vs. Mondale in the presidential debate. Mondale said Reagan won't tell you that he'll raise your taxes but will have to...
• Elf, Before I joined the Progressive Conservatives, I voted for Chrétien. I'd have to look it up to see how many times but I do remember why: he had a talen...

Nanos Economic Monitor - Confidence in economy up - but Canadians still worse off than a year ago (2009-09-21)

• Hollinm, I may be wrong but both questions have to do with delaying bills. I have a very vague memory of 180 days as a maximum but I'm too lazy to do the ...

Harper widens leadership advantage over Ignatieff: Nanos Poll (Completed September 11th) (2009-09-14)

• Elf, The tide is turning. Not only can they not see it but better for us, they cannot even conceive it! Our day is coming and a lot faster than conventional...
• Hollinm, Haven't you heard? We Liberals have a new favourite drink...it's called "The Jack Fizzle"! It's bound to do wonders for our political health. Just ...
• Hollinm, I don't do squirm, remember. I've just got a big job ahead of me. One that I relish. Remember, I've been working hard for quite some time now!
• Diagnostician, Did you put Harper and magnanimous in the same sentence? God, I must need new glasses.
• Lex, Can you really type with a straight face and make the bogus argument that this Prime Minister knows how to work together with anyone? Au contraire, th...
• Lex, A direct quote: "Could the Liberals make it more clear that they're interested only in gaining power and not in governing well than they have by pre-e...
• The Nanos Report. Congratulations! Just caught the premiere episode of TNR -- it was excellent. I look forward to many fine programs and encourage everyone...
• Hollinm, Perhaps. Perhaps not!
• Hollinm, Thanks for the update.

Nanos National Poll - Canadians' views on minority governments and Harper's re-election a mixed bag (2009-08-22)

• Will We Ever Break Out Of Neck and Neck? The upcoming polls should be fascinating. Someone is about to break from the pack once political reality sets in......
• Syl, Thank you. I hope to keep it civil, challenging and intense. If it works right it will be a strategist's paradise -- particularly when one of us is r...
• Howie, Your contribution will be appreciated.

Nanos National Poll - Economy slides as an issue of concern - no political dividend for Conservatives, yet. (2009-08-10)

• That Big Goose Egg Is Called... Buy American. Yes folks, our Prime Minister struck out at bat at the North American Summit...as I predicted, Casey got nowh...
• Jack, I'm revolted that the public purse is paying money to Stephen Harper's party but you won't see me trying to cancel it! I believe in as level a playing...
• AD_REM, Looking forward to you guys losing!
• Jack, He can't help it. The devil made him do it.
• AD_REM, You should have a chat with the PM. The only thing he and I have in common is that we are both REALISTS. Harper knew going in that he would get nowh...
• AD_REM, That was a left hook. I meant the upcoming election.
• AD_REM, Yeah right. For every dollar the three other parties raise, you can bank nine or ten. Sounds good to me...remember, I was born yesterday.
• AD_REM, You sure seem awfully confident that we will pull the plug without a platform. Interesting.
• Hollinm, Nice to see you. You know how Conservatives are more than convinced that we Liberals are quite simply just another boy who will cry wolf once too o...
• Ontarian, I remain extremely bullish because I don't like the moniker of Dion II. It strikes me as strategically dangerous but then again, what do I know......
• Jack, I have no quarrel with what you've posted.
• Non-aligned in Toronto, Leadership means going to the polls this fall. Period.
• RichardG, They can't save this government unless Harper leaves -- and that will never happen. After that, the Alberta Clipper will become the party's next l...
• AD_REM, On this point I will use the following term: respectfully, you're dreaming. Nothing will come out of the White House and certainly not Congress in t...
• AD_REM, Touché. And for once, you are much too kind.
• AD_REM, No comment!
• AD_REM, You know me well enough by now to know what will happen -- or should I say not happen if there is no election this fall. I'll be out for good. A lot...
• AD_REM, For once in my life, my heart will be with Harper on this file. It's in the interest of all Canadians.
• AD_REM, Ancient history!
• AD_REM, I can look after my own hugs, thank you.
• AD_REM, I won't have the energy if the wrong strategic decision is taken. It's that simple.
• STILL ancient history as long as the pattern is not repeated.
• I'm active until the fall. After that it's hibernation time if the CPC is still the government.
• That should be until the end of fall.
• AD_REM, We'll both be watching attentively.
• Not with a body like this!
• Hollinm, Of course I favour money for the Conservatives even though I'm revolted. It has to go to all parties in the interest of fairness. I understand your...
• AD_REM, Forgive me if I remain skeptical.
• Hollinm, I'm still pushing for fall but we both know what the powers that be think of my argument -- not to mention the person advocating for it...
• AD_REM, OK it is -- but now we've become fourteen afterthoughts in Washington D.C. rather than one.
• AD_REM, I'm certainly not arguing otherwise but given the overall protectionist climate (à la softwood -- the "best" bad deal we could get and HAD NO CHOI...
• Ontarian, In spite of its name, I hope Daisy gets flooded with roses from people who are not obvious Liberals, like yours truly. Now that would be an i...
• Ontarian, They could call themselves plus bleu que bleu au Québec. As someone who has already lived it, I ain't holding my breath...
• Putting Canadians First. I feel a rant coming on, so here goes -- call me particular but I believe in putting the interests of Canada first. I'm for busting...
• Naughty Mr. Blue! Mr. Blue, of The Blue Network, says Mr. Plett and Mr. Finley are Liberals. Makes me wonder what he's planning to call Mr. Stephen Harper. ...
• AD_REM, I do. Remember, what is important about the Olympic runner is that he or she bears the torch...the catalyst is right in front of our faces, waiting...
• AD_REM, Indira forgot the most precious group: those who willingly take the blame when it all goes to hell in a handbasket. Truman may have said "The Buck S...
• The Globe and Mail Joins The "Herd"... It's thinking like this that keeps parties in opposition: As next month's return of Parliament draws near, specu...
• Is The Blue Network In Search Of "True-Blue" Senators? What's holding up the show? Shouldn't our Prime Minister have smugly announced the Senate smorgasbo...
• 1285 Days Is More Than Enough. I've got a song that won't stop buzzing in my brain. It goes something like this: Words & music by paul simon Slip sl...
• Divorce: Harper Style! Well, well, isn't this just about as predictable at it gets. Our Prime Minister seems to be a bit thin-skinned these days. Can't fo...
• It's Either Bye Bye Buy American Or Bye Bye Stephen Harper. That's it in a nut shell. The Prime Minister will bust his ass trying to get concessions out o...
• Poor AD_REM, You're the only guy who doesn't see it. Trudeau's, Turner's, Chrétien's and even Martin's record have been warped into a parallel universe. Y...
• AD_REM, Must be nice living in the past and counting on yesterday's news as a source of potential political revival. In other words, this Prime Minister has...
• Bernie, The last one I received was from Sylvie Boucher. The CPC could get better odds in Quebec if they relied on divine intervention...instead of 10%ers. ...
• AD_REM, You really missed your true calling. You would make a great analyst. Of course, you haven't a clue where I'm coming from. Nice yarn though -- if it ...
• AD_REM, My motto has always been when circumstances provide power, you use it -- and not just as leverage. I've had many fine successes in politics by using...
• Khadrizing This Prime Minister. Some people are known as lovable grumps -- others not. If you happen to run into our Prime Minister this weekend, prudence s...
• Ontarian, Amen brother. And God Bless Us Everyone! Harper had better program his GPS for Calgary.
• AD_REM, If it will make you happy, I will repeat what I thought was OBVIOUS by now: the Harper government position is an extension of the Martin government ...
• Now, now AD_REM, I did not say it's automatic that the SCC will rule in Ottawa's favour. On humanitarian grounds, I would like to see him repatriated to Ca...
• AD_REM, You know how it goes: Get ready; Get set; Go.
• Путешествие в тысячу миль начинается с одного шага.
• AD_REM, That's any easy one. As SOON as they become available.
• Come on AD_REM, You of all people can take it. I've never met anyone on this site who dishes it out better than you do. You have no equal. These newly creat...
• AD_REM, You have no confidence in our tea leaves. That is as it should be. What matters is whether we have confidence in them. The day you have confidence ...
• AD_REM, You're an old hand at this...you know what that means. It's called scouting out future terrain.
• Velma_Kincaid, Does this mean we aren't dealing with the political reincarnation of Harry Truman?
• Thank you Warren Kinsella. (over at WK.com) I saw that squirrel on Canada AM. Now he's (shouldn't presume without a visual inspection but I digress) at the ...
• Velma_Kincaid, Call me presumptuous, arrogant, a fool, what have you -- but my gut says it hasn't been a matter of if, but merely of when for quite some tim...
• AD_REM, You really are deep.
• Wasn't that the New [delete] Democratic Party?
• In Vancouver We Had Parnel. I was grateful to Parnel for giving us an assessment of what was happening each day at the convention. Strangely enough, no one ...
• AD_REM, Η νίκη δεν έρχεται προς την άτολμη.
• AD_REM, Нападение собака знает свою миссию.
• Celui qui ose récolte les bénéfices.
• AD_REM, Yes, I read that this morning. This paragraph is indeed key: If one is not a partisan, this is a very difficult question to answer: Why should Mr. ...
• AD_REM, You sure don't know how to accept a compliment...
• AD_REM, You can't figure me out, even after all this time. I thought our discourse would have been somewhat enlightening. Oh well. In any event, you can re...
• AD_REM, You don't even have to ask. I'm solid for the good, bad or the ugly. Enjoy the ride.
• AD_REM, If you guys happen to lose, let's make it clear right now that I won't be rubbing shit in anyone's face. Not my style. Even defeated prime minister...
• AD_REM, Thank you. But hey, if I had the "magic", wouldn't I already be sitting in Ottawa...
• AD_REM, Careful AD_REM. I can feel another of those advance chess pieces moving!
• Where Harper Has Me Bested. I hope the Prime Minister remembers to pat a few penguins for me when he's up there this week. For the life of me, I can't figur...
• You think.
• AD_REM, It still strikes me as a net wash (oh forgive me for that) when you factor in Global Warming into the mix.
• Dear Nik, You see where this is going...it isn't a pretty picture. You might want to consider shutting down the blog. Frankly, I'm tired of it all and woul...
• My Last Post. I want to go out on a high note. What I want to say has nothing to do with politics -- au contraire, it has to do with what is best in the Can...
• Seeker, Thank you for your kind words and the same to everyone else who left recent comments. There simply comes a point where one says enough is enoug...

Nanos National Poll - Strengths and Weaknesses of the Liberal Party (2009-07-03)

• Tom, The proof will be in the pudding. Most of us are waiting to see what is ultimately rolled out.
• Nik, A couple of things: even though the Conservatives form the government and have a track record on which to base one's opinions, do these responses als...
• Informed1, All of this is balloons in the sky. As the platform is released, we will see how it is perceived. It will either be a hit or a miss. Either way...
• Syld, It had better. I don't like the direction this country has been going in these last three and a half years. Liberals have to remember that it is the t...
• Informed1, I supported the Conservatives until December. You will no doubt recall that even before that, as a Red Tory (you remember them -- the people who ...
• Informed1, You have no equal when it comes to massaging the message: how convenient for you to forget that one of those "Liberal hacks" was given an extende...
• Informed1, Because as I've bored you and others before...when you fight the next war with the last's tactics (and rhetoric) -- plain and simple, YOU LOSE. ...
• Informed1, I would have thought that the Quebec campaign was an obvious choice. As for Liberal execution, I need to see red meat before the next election....
• Informed1, Nothing like a man who recognizes thin ice when he sees it...
• Yes it's entirely fair. As a six-month Liberal, I can't tell you why. We both agree that the Liberal road ahead has to have specifics laid out. We'll see it...
• Informed1, Each party has to get its vision across.The party whose vision clearly and enthusiastically resonates with the voters will get to form the next g...
• Informed1, I have no problem with manadatory minimums but not across the board. I believe in judicial discretion -- latitude to confront particular circum...
• Where Have You Gone Oh Blue Sweater! Our Prime Minister is many things -- some good, some not. You know, one thing we can say for sure about him is that h...
• Informed1, I do not find these provisions unreasonable but I will want to hear what the witnesses before the Standing Committee have to say before I take ...
• Informed1, Of course they are delaying bills beyond sobre second thought. That is their JOB as an independent chamber. They are an opposition, albeit unel...
• Strategic Counsel: Time To Push For A Fall Election. Liberal momentum has ended and so has the honeymoon. Ask yourself why? Some will argue it is because ...
• Informed1, You guys have the upper hand. I'm hoping to help change that. We'll see. But as we both agree, a Liberal platform has to be on the table sooner...
• Syld, You put that so nicely - "unsettled". Sounds like conflicted. I think we can bridge the gap with our starting measure, i.e. the beginnings of the pl...
• Informed1, SC is an excellent pollster. Like most of us here, I was aware of Peter's background. While it is always true that one poll does not a trend m...
• Informed1, Like you, I'm worried about A H1N1 particularly now that we may have a strain mutation in Hong Kong that may not be effectively treated by Tami...
• Informed1, On this one, I know you will live up to your moniker: here are the titles of the two latest abstracts from the New England Journal of Medicine:...
• Informed1, What has you so rattled? For a guy who has two favourable opinion polls under his belt, you sure are acting strangely. Surely you don't view ten...
• Praying For A Harper-Brown Bilateral! We get it. Gordon Brown is a bit tiffed at Stephen Harper. (And I thought Brown already had his hands full, "domestica...
• Larry, He'll be back soon enough. Just call him Mr. Eleven.
• Definitely Mr.
• Syld, Defending the strategic delay in releasing the platform is one thing. Defending the non-release quite another. (I know you're not advocating the latte...
• Katrina, If only Informed1 hadn't been suspended...it was working in our favour. By the end of the night, you and I would have had plenty of company as ex-T...
• Katrina, You have a bright future, strategically speaking. You're already an out-of-the-box thinker. Hope you will be blazing your own trail soon, political...
• Katrina, Others had them but most of those posters got suspended!
• Westerner, MRM, Just in case Informed1 doesn't make it back, I hope one of you guys will be back to spar with us Liberals. You know, it won't be quite the s...
• Sorry Hollinm. I forgot about you. My apologies.
• Arthur C of Calgary, I can't help but wonder what possessed him to take Communion. It seems to me it would have been wiser not to participate rather than ...
• Katrina, No wonder the Prime Minister has long days. This goes to the calibre of staff that surrounds him in the PMO. I honestly don't think HE would have...
• Katrina, Dimitri's job is one of the most tightly scripted. That suggests he had to check upstairs...I would look higher up for the person who sounded off...
• G8 Regret. I can't help but feel that the G8 leaders will leave L'Aquila, Italy with at least one regret: too bad Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of the Swiss C...
• Syld, Respectfully, no one is interested in showcasing the past record of Liberal governments. What we want and need is for Michael and his team to establis...
• Dimitri Soudas. This hasn't exactly been one of the best weeks for Dimitri Soudas, the Prime Minister's Press Secretary. No need to go into it all over agai...
• Angus Reid: Conservatives Hold Six Point Lead. An Angus Reid Strategies poll shows the Conservatives ahead of the Liberals with 36% support. Liberals have f...
• Seeker, Hopefully, on election night!
• Keeping Your Head When All Those Around You Are Losing Theirs... Time for a little generic advice as we approach the September apex: so far it's been a war ...
• Seeker, If the Prime Minister had any such delusions (and I'm not saying that he does) he would follow his political theory of "incrementalism" -- that is w...
• Seeker, Thanks for that frank assessment. Michael has a job to do to convince you. If he does, so goes the party and hopefully the nation. In other words, ...
• The Resignation...That Wasn't. Wow, Stephen Harper is still Prime Minister of Canada. Boy, that was a close one! I guess that blurb in Quebec that the PM wa...
• Jack, We've missed you. Nice to see that you haven't mellowed!
• Seeker, My gut has been screaming Liberal majority government for precisely those reasons but my brain has chosen to discount it given the polling. The so...
• Jack, Well yes and no. Remember our friend is extremely clever.
• Katrina, In politics, it's the parties' job to make things happen: it is their responsibility to move their numbers through the doldrums of summer. In oth...
• Seeker, Out the door with the phony war and political pretense of what the people want. We both agree, let's have at it this fall. This is a time for guts...
• Katrina, I always have a plan. (Modesty is not one of my finer points!) The question remains -- do they for creating summer momentum? I'm sure you also...
• Jack, Political strategy is a wonderful thing. There are countless possible unforeseen variations. In my humble opinion, one is playing out right now!
• Jack, Personally I find it flattering to be kept on the edge of my toes. God bless that chessboard.
• Driving In Those Wedges, Sacred Or Otherwise. Let's start it off by quoting the Prime Minister: According to the PM, those responsible for this are "[...
• Jack, The Prime Minister needs Soudas in the game to hold the ADQ glue together. After all, the Senator can't do it alone. And besides, with Coderre nippi...
• Katrina, Always remember that the rear-view mirror is not necessarily a good indicator of the lessons that can be learned and applied for the future. A...
• Jack, The ex-Bloc guy is meeting regularly with Harper. We'll see what he comes up with but I'm not giving odds.
• Jack, If we only kept above board people in Ottawa, the place would be empty except for the janitorial staff...Harper's people are willing to be played. A...
• MacLeans: "What the Tories need to do in Quebec". That's the headline. The answer: practice crying. The Prime Minister for better or worse, is on his o...
• Katrina, You're probably not going to remember the Trudeau ads from the 70s and 80s. As you know, there is a fine line in legitimately representing what a...
• When The Run Of The One-Man Show Is Finally Up. It's not easy being a one-man show: I can think of several notable ones we've had in Quebec but I want to ...
• Katrina, I won't bet on it just yet. In my view, at this point it remains still too theoretical. We need to closely follow subsequent polling.
• Ekos: Conservatives Slightly Ahead. An Ekos poll released on Thursday shows the Conservatives and Liberals virtually neck and neck with 34.1% of respondents...
• Raising The Old Profile One Notch At A Time. Personally, I happen to like Monday morning quarterbacks. Nothing like the benefit of hindsight and previous ex...
• Katrina, Respectfully, allow me to disagree on your last point: the Prime Minister for political purposes at least is now a confirmed centrist (whether he h...
• Katrina, Yes, I read that earlier. But again IMHO Simpson has it dead wrong: the Conservatives and Liberals both privately know that we are destined for lon...
• Angus Reid: Conservatives Drop Three Points. Conservatives are supported by 33% of respondents and lead the Liberals by three points. The NDP is backed by 1...
• Jack, We both know that voters don't like making hard and sensible choices -- particularly as soon as an otherwise necessary and desirable plan or action is...
• "Out Of Touch": Is This The Liberal Wedge? No news to any of us that politicians are arrogant -- or at least perceived as such. Hell, even this humble huma...
• Katrina, It isn't just Tom Watson who is spending some time in the bunker -- both these parties are as well. They have to get out and pick up some traction,...
• Are The Communications People Dropping The Ball? Let's keep it simple. All the parties are looking for that breakout issue -- the one that will generate n...
• HC in AB, Thank you for those kind words. Too bad that the country will pay for political shortsightedness exhibited by all the parties. Bringing back the...
• HC in AB, Thanks. The NEP crap makes my blood boil for a number of reasons: a) Ottawa has no right to dictate a Made in Canada price. That is a give...
• The last paragraph should read NEP, not NDP. Sorry.
• HC in AB, Nice try with that last sentence! But we are both aware that Michael has taken positions that are different from Trudeau both when the former pr...
• HC in AB, What do you think of this. I'm far from comfortable but do have a considerable number of oil, gas, services and other energy stocks. Now, ple...
• HC in AB, Very well said and with a perspective that is extremely well balanced and reasonable. My compliments.
• HC in AB, I agree that voters are definitely in a non-committal parking phase: party support across the board in Ontario strikes me as relatively soft and e...
• Westerner, Nice to have you back. Speaking as a newly minted fart in the Liberal Party you will have to take this with a grain of salt: it seems that a st...
• Westerner, Like beauty, ivory towers are in the eye of the beholder. It's my contention that the PMO is much more insular by its very nature with a hermet...
• ...that's right! Politicians never lie or go back on their word. It's in Marleau and Montpetit.
• Self-Employed: Will Half A Loaf Be Enough? The Harper government seems ready to provide maternity and parental benefits for self-employed workers within s...
• Goodale and Flaherty both did the responsible thing with regard to Income Trusts. But it was incomplete unless I missed something -- what about the other hal...
• Here Comes The Plan! Must be tough getting up in the morning only to find out how indifferent you are to the plight of the self-employed. Where's the guy'...
• HC in AB, We both know that will never happen in a million years: when an opposition furnishes the rope it's with the intention of hanging the beneficiary...
• HC in AB, Something tells me we will hear this argument in the next election! I can picture the Prime Minister as he opportunistically moves from no tax i...
• Here's How To Make A Fortune Without Really Trying. Invent a political bullshit detector...from what I'm hearing, the run on it would be out of this world...
• HC in AB, Well, I always TRY to be at least fair minded. Nothing would please me more than to see someone study the question in depth during Michael's fir...
• A Message For Jack. I don't know about the rest of you but I can't wait to get Jack's take on recent events. I sure hope he will be getting back to us in ...
• HC in AB, Worth noting that the culture dependency has never been limited to any particular region, province or territory. Canadians favour the middle-roa...
• HC in AB, We agree that Michael should go this fall. We also agree that if he doesn't: a) he becomes perceived as Dion II and b) he keeps the Prime Minist...
• Jack, I agree that we do not have a presidential system but I find any desire for a salute or the focus upon same rather infantile. It theoretically makes...
• Same to you.
• Jack, Reading the above, I now understand why the PMO considers this writer a Liberal apologist! Can't say I agree but I think the emphasis should always ...
• Syld, Detaching Quebecers from a reflexive vote for the Bloc Québécois has to be job one for us in the next campaign. We have to concentrate our efforts o...
• Those Dreadful "Second" Choice Blues. A CBC Ekos poll released yesterday confirms that Canadians are looking for a majority government, while the race rem...
• Westerner, You're too kind!
• Thanks Jack. Do you think as I do that as the majority syndrome penetrates to an ever greater extent people's consciousness that we will see the traditional...
• Seeker, Psiclone is so lucky to be drafting away in the PMO. I've never seen him produce a "finer" text. To my mind, it's a perfect representation of the at...
• My Election Prediction: Goodbye Stephen. I've decided to come out with my election prediction. I'm betting that with the chaos of minority governments past ...
• Agreed to the extent that I do favour left tinges but not a wholesale move left. Once we start looking like NDP lite we are done as dinner.
• Seeker, It's my view that our Prime Minister thinks HE is such a clever tactician whom he believes stands heads and shoulders above all the rest. So far his...
• HC in AB, To win big, the Liberals have to outmanoeuvre the Bloc. Only Liberal policy can do that. Name calling and contempt for how some Quebecers voted wi...
• AD_REM, Why don't you and Canadian open your own avatar store! As Yogi Berra would say, it's déjà vu all over again.
• AD_REM, http://www.electionalmanac.com/canada/projections.php
• AD_REM, You know how I hate to burst your bubble but it looks like I have a lot of company! I hope you have a strong stomach: http://strategy.sauder.ubc.c...
• Perplexed Conservatives? Nice to see them playing defence. Not too sure which way to turn or what strategy to follow. One upping the Liberals is quite sudde...
• AD_REM, Clever but ineffective tactic! As you know, I don't speak for anyone but myself. Here's my reply: God Bless Michael Ignatieff! With God's benev...
• Westerner, Can't you get the Prime Minister to join us in dealing effectively with this issue? Since the PM seems to be stuck on reset, shouldn't he be seri...
• Seeker, Westerner knows when it's in his interest to keep quiet! He has earned a lot more latitude than much of the rest but he still has to watch his step ...
• Westerner, If compromise is in the air, can success be far behind? We will see, won't we.
• A Conservative Weather Forecast. Courtesy of the Weather Doctor, here's a weather update on the premature but nonetheless not totally unexpected arrival of ...
• Now Westerner. This tact is beneath you. Leave it to others who are far more habitually schooled in such tactics.
• AD_REM, One will not be too far behind the other. Ron O'Dowd
• Westerner, I happen to believe in personal evolution. Stephen Harper is not the man from the NCC nor is Michael Ignatieff still the crusading journalist fro...
• Westerner, Don't you get it? You have your deeply held principles, some which we may happen to disagree with but all which are worthy of our RESPECT. Look...
• AD_REM, Oh yes they can. If we're pretending, Conservatives stay in power. It really is as simple as that, isn't it.
• Westerner, You are a well seasoned political operative. You know the routine. It's regrettable coming from all sides but then again we can't abolish gravity...
• Syld has chosen not to evolve. That is his decision. When he goes overboard he hurts the Liberal cause which ironically he would never knowingly do since the...
• Westerner, Central Canada has controlled this country since Confederation. That era is now dead and buried. The West is King and will call the tune. That is...
• P.S. I happen to know of what I speak since I was the exact same way when I was a Progressive Conservative. I loved that party, its traditions and its accomp...
• Westerner, You know I did not mean what you've suggested. Syld is entitled to his opinions and his political direction. I just happen to disagree with it, s...
• HC in AB, I would go to the barricades for Page. I believe in deliberately checking the power of government, both actual and potential. Democracy functions ...
• HC in AB, Please give me your take on which of my two working theories is actually accurate: a) the bureaucratic culture epitomized by the upper-level mand...
• AD_REM, You should rejoice. This government is as solid as granite. Seemingly, it has nothing to worry about. We Liberals don't have what it takes to win. O...
• AD_REM, Kelly's comment does cut both ways, doesn't it. We won't even go back to compare the Prime Minister with the previous leader. Theoretically, we can ...
• AD_REM, That pleading sounds like sour grapes. You will see them all in good time and most importantly, on the Liberal schedule. As you know, I'm for a part...
• Seeker, Has anyone ever told you that you have quite a talent for giving a measured response?! I must learn to be a lot more like you. You seem to have muc...
• Westerner, Why the sudden theatrics? Readers have only a power to recommend. We are neither judge or jury. That rests with the Honourable Justice Nanos. Bo...
• Why would I be concerned. It's called parliamentary democracy. Besides, your guys are going to get your precious nine senators under the wire next month so ...
• Syld, I know the party is lucky to have you. Keep plugging!
• AD_REM, Please get some sleep. Your chess pieces are starting to fall over! Remember, it's BLOCKED 2x for a government job by the PMO. Nighty, night and s...
• AD_REM, Look, you can push Liberal accountability all you want in the next campaign. We will push Conservative accountability -- and let the chips fall wher...
• AD_REM, Self-righteous condemnation of Liberal hyperbole coming from you guys -- now that's mighty rich.
• AD_REM, You might want to book an appointment. It hasn't done much soaring lately...unless you count that progressively downward flight path!
• AD_REM, Why don't you divert your tremendous talents toward the next Conservative campaign. For example, with your impressive command of Latin, you could ...
• Thank you Paul Bunyan for those tall tales. Hope to see you on the campaign trail! Oh that's right. Conservatives are quaking in their boots in fear of f...
• AD_REM, It's all about holding all the parties responsible for their conduct past and present. That's why we need an election this fall. Let the voters spea...
• Well Knock Me Over With A Feather! That can't be right. Stephen Harper, a partisan first and foremost. Nah. Those ungrateful senators must have him confused...
• Westerner, Nice return volley!
• Westerner, Since when is it "outlandish" to defend the oil sands? Michael is a perfectly reasonable Canadian. He wants this country to live up to its full p...
• Westerner, You sure have a lot of wind behind those sails on this point. This is really getting tiresome. So I'll answer your question: Michael said we wer...
• Westerner, Too bad we Liberals don't have a bang on crystal ball like you Conservatives -- trust me, we really do envy you having that thing and being abl...
• Westerner, We both know you had better like Harper!
• AD_REM, I never knew that the words (some call it pure speculation!) of a political nobody were so interesting to you. What do I know. After all, I'm no S...
• AD_REM, Nought from the Greeks towards me hath sped well. So now I find that ancient proverb true, Foes' gifts are no gifts: profit bring they none.
• AD_REM, Whom the Gods would destroy they first make...King.
• AD_REM, Will they have to use butter!
• Yup. You will have the strategic upper hand vis-à-vis the passage of legislation. Only problem -- we could quite conceivably cut your government off at th...
• Conservative Caucus Meeting. Nice to see that you are once again of one mind about the possibility of an election. You have no idea how interesting it ...
• Time To Move On. One thing we can agree on -- we all love this country and want what is best for Canada, its citizens and residents. For my part, I'm ...
• AD_REM, I'm choosing to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt. Last time I checked, Soudas was not Harper. Why doesn't the Prime Minister go on...
• What? Still No Report From The Conservative Caucus? I'm kind of disappointed. Here the braintrust of the Conservative Party has been in action these past ...
• AD_REM, Both parties will claim the credit and have the quiet satisfaction of knowing they did the job for Canadians when a substantive agreement is event...
• AD_REM, I still prefer an election (because Harper is on the ropes) but since I'm not a party leader, I'm following Michael's lead like every responsible ...
• Westerner, Well, let's see how the thing pans out before we pronounce judgment.
• Syld, I hope this isn't becoming a back and forth about what may, or may not be, our personal preferences!!
• Westerner, I would have never guessed that you were a guy prone to "wishful" thinking about your own party's abilities!
• AD_REM, Correct me if I'm wrong but it was my impression that Michael's e-mail hit the PMO before Duncan's statement was made. As for the media, there...
• AD_REM, If those rantings happen to float your boat, please be my guest! I prefer to leave the fantasy scenarios to the Straussian set.
• AD_REM, That's precisely what an election is for: ACCOUNTABILITY! Surely you can understand that.
• The lady doeth protest too much, methinks. Or, if you prefer: Cucullus non facit monachum.
• AD_REM, We look forward to eventually giving Canadians and their families the best possible government. They deserve nothing less. Now that's thinking abo...
• AD_REM, Quite naturally but somewhat modestly, we would tend to prefer: Veni, vidi, vici. Victoria est mei.
• Westerner, You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men!
• AD_REM, Paragraph One: You tell me! After all, you do tend to spend some time on the Elections Canada website... I'm still waiting for my phone call...
• AD_REM, Isn't that with Joe Clark said?
• I'm slipping! Isn't that what Joe Clark said? Sorry.
• AD_REM, I'm sure you're really counting on that...but hey, save yourselves some major heartache and don't bother trotting out that second-hand crystal bal...
• Westerner, Perhaps if you call Michael up tonight and ask, very, very, nicely...on second thought, please get the Prime Minister to do it himself...
• AD_REM, I've never seen you so sympatico...you're really quite deep what with all that compassion and concern for ordinary card-carrying Liberals. Not ...
• Westerner, Do have a nice vacation and trip abroad. We'll all understand if you happen to miss some action in the interim.
• Keeping Track Of Those Ministers... Joe Clark had three that went AWOL from the House when the going got tough and rather sticky. Makes me wonder how m...
• AD_REM, This is nothing more than a distraction which both sides will try to use to their ultimate advantage. As I said before, if I can use Jamieson langua...
• AD_REM, Fortes fortuna adiuvat.
• Diane Finley: Drives The Bus Into The Wall. Better start bolting down those chairs! When the boss got wind of this, I doubt he was pleased. This is how The ...
• HC in AB, Thanks very much. Your perspective is greatly appreciated. I learned something tonight which helps meet to fit some of the bureaucratic-executive ...
• AD_REM, If I didn't know better, I would swear you were sitting next to me at the office... (Of course in the PMO, that talent rests with the Adéquistes!)
• HC in AB, Agreed. Both sides will have to get in their first blows with their best punch. Starting out of the gate strongly is essential for both parties.
• AD_REM, You are nothing if not entertaining. We both agree that if the Liberals do not go this fall that will damage the credibility of the brand. Try als...
• AD_REM, I've chosen to give the Prime Minister the benefit of the doubt. As I said before, Soudas is not Harper. Shouldn't the PM be bolstering his own ca...
• HC in AB, We seem to be on the same page again. No sense of even a potential for a voter backlash in sight. Clearly, that is not good news for the Conserv...
• Angus Reid: Liberals Up By One. A Toronto Star Angus Reid poll has the Liberals in the lead, albeit barely: Tonda MacCharles Ottawa Bureau OTTAWA–Th...
• AD_REM, I could also be wrong but both major parties strike me as solid at their core. It is sheer folly to think they can be "destroyed". Even after Dion...
• AD_REM, Our Prime Minister has indeed been busy. He should never be underestimated. Let's just call it the 12-15 strategy, for short. The guy is good ...
• AD_REM, Are you just discovering mediocrity? It happens to live in every profession and walk-of-life, yes even in medicine...poor patients. Is your blo...
• AD_REM, Well done! Dear General Public, Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules.
• AD_REM, Plan C Think of the dynamic of a fast moving election campaign: it works in forward gear once a campaign gets off the ground successfully. (Thi...
• Psiclone, Ye of little faith! Watch carefully and learn before the 2 X 4 sends reality home for some people on election night.
• Psiclone, Don't hold your breath waiting for inaction. There are enough "blue" Tories already. It's called sh___ing in your p___s time!
• Psiclone, Someone has to be. We'll have possession of the puck come September -- don't you worry!
• AD_REM, Bloc first: Given that Harper is incredibly damaged goods in Quebec = no self-respecting Bloc voter will allow that party to prop him up. If they ...
• AD_REM, Clearly, we will not agree. You're arguing that they will not embrace any strategy that guarantees a net loss for them by backing the Liberals. That...
• AD_REM, Given your position backed up by public data, I would have to at least concede that Jack will indeed be a possible wild card. I will acknowledge tha...
• AD_REM, This interesting wrinkle is certainly wonderful to contemplate but when reality sets in... This modest writer who is not running for office has a b...
• AD_REM, Do we both agree that Jack is gone after this round and that Thomas will indeed be a "contender"?! However, it will all come out in the wash as lon...
• Here's Why We Need An Election: In TWO Sentences! 1. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is dead set against an election; 2. Without an election, the Conserv...
• An Example Of Why Harper Is Not To Be Underestimated. Internal party strategy can often be just as important as political strategy vis-à-vis the opposition ...
• First Jack, now Gilles. Rather significant, wouldn't you say? And I thought if I wanted a whopper, I had to go to Burger King. So much for let's make a de...
• AD_REM, Well, the rose may have faded just a bit but you know how beavers are on the river! The beavers are working overtime these days -- political platfo...
• AD_REM, It certainly warms my heart when Liberal tactics leave you with questions...when they lead you to answers, that's when I start to get concerned! P....
• Katrina, Politics is a strange thing. Just ask Jean Charest. Never count this Prime Minister out. The guy is one hell of a street fighter. He shares that t...
• Katrina, Sorry, sloppy sentence. His major strategic blunders have proven that rather than being a brilliant tactician, he is merely a considerable one. Non...
• An Open Letter. Dear National Securities Regulator, Once you begin operations (on a opt-in basis) what will be your mandate? It's one thing to serve as a n...
• Katrina, God, this is embarrassing! Better stick to commenting on politics! Thanks for the reply. (Nice one!)
• Nirvana: Conservative-style! Everyone knows that Stephen Harper had a good relationship with a soulmate: then Australian prime minister John Howard. Talk ab...
• AD_REM, We can and will do better this time! First point: the Economic Update hurt only the Conservatives. The coalition agreement hurt the opposition parti...
• AD_REM, She has a right to her opinion. So does Jack and anyone else who happens to dissent.
• In Light Of Fast-Moving Developments... Keep a sharp eye out for low flying bricks! Something tells me there on the way.
• Thursday's The Day! It may not be as enjoyable as a root canal at the dentist -- but God bless 'em, the EI panel is going to go ahead anyway and have anothe...
• Just Throwing It Out There. There are a lot of unanswered questions in the universe. Personally, one of my favourites was asked on CBC Television...too bad ...
• AD_REM, No.
• AD_REM, Jack says he's a Conservative. I take him at his word. Ditto for the Prime Minister on the matter of the host. I merely expressed the wish for him t...
• AD_REM, We have a justice system. When people's rights are violated, they are defamed or smeared unjustly, the courts seem to me to be the natural avenue fo...
• AD_REM, Whatever make you happy...
• AD_REM, First of all, this nobody doesn't amount to a hill of beans for any of the parties. That explains why I have never been in Ottawa. That's today's ...
• AD_REM, Can I bring Michael?
• AD_REM, You really are in splendid form this morning. Here's one right back at you -- personally, I'm open to negotiating a coalition government with y...
• AD_REM, As Brian might say, "See you in the trenches."
• AD_REM, As I've said on several other occasions: watch and listen carefully. You just might learn something!
• AD_REM, Somehow, it seems to have escaped you, the great web traveller, to go take a look on garth.ca or one of his other sites! If Garth decides to ru...
• Conservative Candidates. I had no idea that Conservative candidates are susceptible to a possible sudden flush down the dumper! Who, them? Nah, not possi...
• Jack, There's The Big Tent and then there's the "big tent". Don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out which one applies to the CPC. In other words, ...
• Katrina, You heard it here first: the Prime Minister will not attend. As for Mulroney "helping" out Harper in Quebec - probably not in his next FIVE lifeti...
• Katrina, Harper will not antagonize his base. He needs all of the them at the polls.
• Ontarian, Nice to see someone who has already planned for his retirement! He'll be a hit at the local library.
• Jack, The next leader will come from Alberta. But it won't be Jason.
• Jack, You could be right but I'm WILLING to bet the farm on this one. For me, it's a sure thing unless the person drops dead.
• AD_REM, You seem to be the only one who does not recognize that we are already in a de facto campaign. It'll be de jure soon enough! As for lessons for...
• AD_REM, An extremely realistic opportunity to send this Prime Minister packing!
• AD_REM, It nice having you guys on the ropes! Quite something to watch you squealing like a stuck pig -- desperate to find any way to avoid an election --...
• AD_REM, This is what I think about the brilliant Conservative parliamentary chess strategy: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
• AD_REM, I don't know which you sound more: self-righteous or DEFENSIVE.
• AD_REM, I'm saving my advocacy on behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada for the campaign.
• AD_REM, You're starting to repeat your Latin!
• Countdown To Doing Things The "Old-Fashioned" Way. Some people go to bed and when restless start to count sheep. Not Conservatives. The chosen few spend the...
• Katrina, I expect to see Carolyn appointed to the Senate. I wish her well. She was always very nice when we met.
• ReggieG., They will do ANYTHING to avoid an election. They know they are going down if we go to the polls. They know people will bitch and complain -- and...
• AD_REM, Monte sure has a lot to say these days for a guy who happens to be "out" of politics. But I guess it never hurts to stay in the public eye. Interes...
• AD_REM, Let me respond this way: there are those in some parties who revel in attack politics. For those people, skirting the line is permissible and crossi...
• AD_REM, This will indeed be the final showdown. This election will either set this country on a new path or serve to confirm the direction that the Harper g...
• Jack, You have a bright future in your party one that other Albertan becomes the leader.
• AD_REM, Even with a united front of Prime Minister and Premiers, there will be no concessions for Canada. Congress is in no mood for appeasing Canada and gi...
• Jack, Our country -- fortunately for all of us, is stronger than its leaders! Each of us fights for the type of Canada we want while respecting the views of...
• AD_REM, Please. They (Bloc and NDP) aren't any more "brilliant" than the rest of us. They profited from Harper's bungling strategy: he took out two sticks o...
• AD_REM, Here we go again with wheels within wheels!
• Here's Another Take On "After-Harper". http://www.forum17.com/article-364532-Jean-Charest-sen-vient-a-Ottawa.html Ça se voit venir. Pas aujourd'hui, pas d...
• Senate Appointments: Keeping It In The Family. Jane Taber's piece brings new meaning to the expression "run silent, run deep"... The departure from the PMO...
• Jack, It's as simple as this: when you are quietly confident in the political outcome, you favour the velvet glove. When things are going to hell in a han...
• Jack, Do you like me regard the pending Senate appointments as the last gasp of a government that knows change is in the air? Remember when Trudeau stuck ...
• AD_REM, We are of one mind on part of your argument: taking pots shot at this Prime Minister personally will detract from Liberal momentum as it develops in...
• AD_REM, As soon as the PM hits the White House, the sad political reality will strike him in the face...I'm far from thrilled myself but it is what it is......
• I need a vacation. That should be pot shots.
• Jack, It's framing of that calibre that rapidly puts prime ministers out of work!
• AD_REM, If both of us could see the future, one of us wouldn't even bother.
• AD_REM, I'm staying away from anything "costing" because I have no expertise in this area. However, if all else fails there's always the CBO in Washington!
• AD_REM, You, possibly disappointed. So sorry to hear that. And I thought I was your dear/dearest pal! As for Jack and Gilles: nope. Trust me, they are soli...
• AD_REM, Ditto. Perhaps you should call me tubby...just finished a mille feuilles. Perhaps you know that theory about substitution and sublimation...
• AD_REM, P.S. We can't all reach for the glories of Italy...
• AD_REM, Agreed to the extent that whichever party wins the skirmish is likely to win the war.
• AD_REM, Partenza per visitare la madre. Arrivederci, ciao.
• Elf, Agreed but we won't see an election unless we keep pushing.

New Nanos National Ballot - Impressions of Harper and Ignatieff measured (2009-06-27)

• Bad News For Harper: It's Called "Undecided". Our poor Prime Minister. He's at 42% in Ontario and he thinks that's a game changer. Well, he might want to de...
• Syld, To my mind, to unseat Mulcair will require a mini-campaign within a campaign with an intense focus on local issues. That could quite conceivably make ...
• Informed1, Each of us has our own interpretation. I remember one rather distinctly: 10-20 more seats for Harper with a Conservative majority win with less ...
• Informed1, You are the government. Granted, the economy is turning. No doubt about it. But you have that lead weight around your neck...YOUR RECORD, such as...
• Informed1, I'm predicting you won't find a willing dance partner. But I admit I could be wrong. If you pull it off, no doubt about it it would be a coup. No...
• I'm counting on that.
• Informed1, No amount of cash will buy this Prime Minister the political love he craves and needs at the ballot box. As for doing something stupid -- well, ...
• Informed1, Continentalism is the new order of the day but like any watch word it can either aid in recuperation or burn you beyond singes. Dancing on tippy...
• Informed1, Listening to Premier Charest in Brussels suggests a rocky road ahead. A provincial role (prior consent) in a multilateral treaty sounds like trou...
• Come on Guys. Please stop behaving like children in pre-kindergarten -- we get it -- God knows each of you has made the same points ad infinitum...we get ho...
• Glad to hear it Jack.
• Jack, Yes I have.
• Informed1, None of us is truly objective here. We all have a political agenda. God knows mine dates back to 2005...it all boils down to the kind of Canada e...
• Informed1, I will reply this way. I think it's a safe assumption to say that most journalists, like most Canadians, are slightly left-of-center voters. I ta...
• Informed1, Re: your last paragraph, how can I put this gently. There remains two solitudes not only in Canada but also in the CPC. I hear it on a regular ba...
• Informed1, I hope this amuses you: I had hoped in 2004 to have a chat and a drink with that PEI guy. Unfortunately, I could not get to the Intercontinental ...
• Informed1, Well, perhaps, but within the bounds of decency. After all, every person is deserving of fundamental respect, even those we happen not to care fo...
• Informed1, Don't forget that every dog has his day! Harper's only came in 2006.
• Informed1, I'm signing off now. The flu is starting to get the better of me. I haven't been this hot and bothered since I was in the Conservative Party. Bu...
• Hollinm, Can you please tell us how the Conservative "platform" was introduced in the last campaign? I could be wrong but I remember a rather improvised pam...
• Syld, Unfortunately, we've seen this play before: the first act involves jettisoning the word "Progressive" and we all know how it plays out after that...
• Hollinm, Yes, Hollinm Dion is a good person worthy of our respect. Like all of us he has faults and qualities...I haven't met a politician yet who is always...
• Informed1, The Conservative gruel is so short on substance that all they have left heading into the next campaign, is their perennial favourite, WEDGE polit...
• Informed1, Please, by all means do! The Harper brand will take on quite a different colour once you push this in the campaign. You think you can win with th...
• Why Joe Clark Got It Wrong. Remember when former Prime Minister Joe Clark told us it was better to go with the devil you know than the one you don't. The vo...
• Informed1, It's pointless trying to pin the negative campaign badge on a particular political donkey. My view is that each Prime Minister gets to chart his ...
• Agreed as it relates to less than or one mandate wonders...
• Syld, In my heart of hearts I want a positive campaign from both sides. Of course, I'm delusional. But I can dream, can't I?
• Informed1, Look, let's get down to brass tacks. There's a trap all right. Harper has something in mind and it has nothing directly to do with EIBRP. You kno...
• Informed1, As Ronald Reagan would say: "There you go again" in another fanciful demonstration of the art of professional pretzel twisting. (I must confess y...
• Informed1, You know what they say about "rogue element" moves: notoriously unstable and more often than not, completely unproductive.
• Informed1, Think so? You'll never know how glad I am that you feel that way. Have a nice rest of the day. Over and out.
• Jack, You're correct. After the 2004 election Stephen Harper was prepared to go but was talked out of it by high-ranking CPC officials. He lucked out. Oth...
• Larry, Ouch!
• Jack, Have to agree with Informed1. As long has the PM has the numbers to form another minority, no one internally will dare to challenge him. Again, like...
• What you said about Belinda's bone.
• Informed1, If I could get past my personal dislike there would still be our conflicting visions of Canada. They are irreconcilable. Even if I never get an...
• And You Thought The Best Fireworks Were On Canada Day! Well, it's official, the Conservatives and Liberals have chosen their respective EI Blue Ribbon Panel...
• Syld, Pierre is the younger alter ego of the PM. Harper could put his life in his hands and Pierre would not be found wanting. Translation: Harper has desig...
• Jack, This is but a ripple in a pond. Never underestimate the sovereignists. They are long-term survivors. Even when they lose, they somehow manage to win a...
• Canada. I hope everyone who celebrated Canada Day today got to appreciate this country in their own way. I also hope those who just took the day off paused ...
• Same to you! (I thought you were going to come back with something DEEP to rebut my pet theory.) P.S. I also can't stand "Group-Think", in Alberta, Ontario...
• C O N F I D E N C E ... I enjoyed reading Preston Manning's excellent piece in The Globe and Mail. I don't want to take it apart piece by piece but I do wan...
• Syld, Informed1, Granted at times, the House resembles dysfunction central but the people's representatives across party lines are nonetheless to be cong...
• Informed1, No. There is no hope that I will ever be back. I crossed my own personal line in the sand. The deed is done. Won't go back for love, money, or ...
• Syld, And I thought no one was smarting more than I was. (Except perhaps for Jamieson.) You seem to have me beat by a country mile.
• Syld, I hope the leader is about to give us some kind of a time line on the platform. My highest priority would be to start moving our numbers up versu...
• Syld, Thanks for putting a smile on my face. An exceeedingly nice end to the work day!
• Informed1, Off hand, would have to do some digging to either confirm or refute. I'm sure you'll have something to say on it long before I do. And if pa...
• Syld, That is one of my biggest faults. With rare exceptions, I tend to keep it civil. I try to treat people on this forum the way I would hope and expect...
• Informed1, Are you telling us YOU don't already know how we're going to do it??? Boy, if that's the case, you're slipping. Perhaps you need a vacation ...
• Nope. I have an idea how things go for incumbent governments. I will check out the raw data sooner or later but you can save both of us a lot of time by putt...
• Informed1, This may be completely wrong because the memory of it is extremely vague. It's my IMPRESSION that incumbent governments generally lose 2-3% of ...
• Hollinm, There comes a time when Michael will just have to bite the bullet. I'm not saying it's this fall or even next spring. But at some point he wil...

Strengths and weaknesses of Conservative government (2009-06-13)

• They Must Pay Dimitri Soudas Big Bucks! I must say that I find it so comforting to be able to count on Stephen Harper's Press Secretary, Dimitri Soudas, to ...
• Jack, Harper will certainly live or die politically on how he performs from this point on. He has to be spot on, tactically speaking. If we go on Thursday o...
• Jack, There's one saving grace for both Harper and Ignatieff: the voters will pronounce upon them in equal measure if there is a summer election. Clearly t...
• Informed1, Honesty in politics. Now there's a contradiction in terms. That's why you can't see the halos above their heads when you walk into the room...
• Informed1, Granted. But that's inevitable because as you repeatedly said, there is no appetite in Canada for a "coalition" government -- not even a Conserva...
• Informed1, Problems, like challenges, are the spice of life.
• Informed1, Are you up for a chat on U.S. mid-term elections? I realize you may have to be somewhat guarded in your responses.
• Jack, Agreed. He must feel like the little Dutch boy these days. Plugging holes is a hell of a lot harder when you have a three and a half year track record.
• Jack, Momentum is always a wonderful thing. The question is, how much momentum! One person's "Big Mo" is the next guy's "Small Mo". Like beauty, it truly i...
• Why The Attack Ads Aren't Working. Our Prime Minister is nothing if not consistent -- by releasing attack ads against Michael Ignatieff last month, he has t...
• CIA Up And Running! They're scared...fecesless. I can report that the CIA (Conservative Intelligence Agency) is up and running and furiously dialing for i...
• Jack, John Baird is John Baird. Every Liberal should be grateful for that. As for every Conservative -- draw your own conclusions...
• Informed1, I am neither for option (a) or (b). That would be rather presumptuous at crunch time for this newly minted Liberal. Michael will take his decisi...
• Informed1, Because you are such a strong supporter of Canadian-US ties and the benefits of that relationship functioning at its best.
• Informed1, We are as one on this issue. But you will agree with me that for domestic political reasons, particularly in Quebec, a delicate balance has to ...
• Informed1, I admire your ability to see all the possible tactical scenarios both for your own party but ALSO for the opposition parties! Please take a ...
• Informed1, That is rather kind of you to wish me well. Thanks.
• Informed1, There are many kinds of BOSS. Some types lead to political triumph and governmental success beyond their wildest dreams. Others choose a more u...
• Accountability And Getting Answers. As I said previously, the Prime Minister will cave on Employment Insurance -- and the other three issues which are pri...
• Informed1, Now tell us precisely how many Conservative candidates have been nominated across Quebec...don't forget as a courtesy to let me know the name o...
• Informed1, The Prime Minister did not hold his own news conference for nothing. He issued a blanket denial to the Liberal EI request. Now, back to the game ...
• Informed1, I take both leaders at face value: they profess a genuine desire to reach a reasonable agreement in the best interests of Canada and Canadians....
• One more thing: it would be a serious mistake for either man to mistake the reasonableness of the other for weakness. That's how the "law" of unintended cons...
• Blue-Ribbon Panels. Interesting concept. No problem coming to terms on its composition. Reasonable assurance that its mandate can be clearly defined. But th...
• Jack, Harper is also a winner. He has, at the very least, bought valuable time. No small victory. The Prime Minister must never be underestimated...he has ...
• Jack, The Olympics are a wonderful thing. I don't expect he will make it there -- at least not as Prime Minister. As Bob Rae can attest, Liberal momentum is...
• Informed1, I will be crystal clear: the Leader has reflected, the leader has decided, the leader has spoken. It's his call. I have nothing to add. My view...
• Informed1, Everyone is entitled to their opinion. As for mine on Martin's piece: "no comment."
• Informed1, Nice of you to keep me up to speed. Very thoughtful of you as well.
• Informed1, I understand. We will watch the next act come the end of September...
• Informed1, I'm not suggesting anything. Merely expecting the House to return during the last week of September.
• Interesting Flashback. "I think they are just signing their own death warrant...(T)his is the kind of behaviour a government does when it is scared to death...
• Syld, This has been in the "air" for at least a year. No question, Toews will be appointed to the bench. It's merely a question of time. My money is on the ...
• Jack, That's Harper's secret plan for storming across Quebec -- one Quebec City street at a time... Hopefully Conservative MPs will not be foolish enough t...
• Trekking To The Heart Of "La nation québécoise". Want further proof that the Prime Minister is not even remotely in pending retirement mode? The PM will be...
• Jack, Harper would never make that type of amateur mistake. He is far too schooled in the political subtleties of the chess game.
• Informed1, You know the old saying about lies, damned lies and statistics. Let's focus on plain facts -- you know a reality check, for a change: Stephen H...
• Informed1, You will understand that all you will get from me here is a dispassionate analysis. Any specific recommendations or direction which I may suggest...
• Informed1, I'm theoretically suggesting that the two parties are on a specified common journey from A to B. As with any trip, unforeseen eventualities can c...
• Syld, I'm for deconstructing the Quebec nationalist myth but long held and deep-seated attitudes, however reflecting an unrealistic reality of the true nati...
• In Search Of The Art Of Quebec Seduction. Seduction can be an extremely subtle thing -- or one's intended can quite literally be seduced by a bold well exec...
• One more point: with each passing year and decade, Pierre Elliott Trudeau takes on increasing political stature in English Canada. That is a fact. But the Q...
• Heading For A Lazy Grouchy Summer... Now that it's more than clear that Stephen Harper is going nowhere both as Prime Minister and leader of the Conservativ...
• Informed1, It warms my heart to know that you are still dedicated to serve as my internet nemesis...I like to outwit a guy who is at least on par with my ...
• Informed1, Keep that wonderful sense of humour. Trust me, you're going to be needing it eventually.
• Informed1, No wonder the Prime Minister is so looking forward to the month of August -- and his nomination of nine new senators. Good thing we managed to ...
• C'est pas fort à la Baie de Beauport. Just caught the Prime Minister's excellent speech in Quebec City as Quebecers celebrate their Fête nationale. In Fre...
• Informed1, The part of the speech on the Fête itself and the "French" fact and Quebec's place in Canada and the importance of same was excellent. It shows...
• Ah, the pleasures of playing to the "base". Looking forward to taking in Michael's speech in Beauce.
• Jack, The Prime Minister has absolutely no room to grow as this and subsequent polls will reveal: I predict that temporary softness in Liberal numbers will ...
• Jack, Isn't it amusing how many people (and pundits) who would rather die than have an election this summer are now all singing from the same hymnbook and b...
• Informed1, My analysis is preliminary based on Jack's presentation of the numbers. Again, as you know, I live in a "dis-associative" (to make up a word) sta...
• Sorry, can't find the #$%^&*() link in The Star or on Angus Reid.
• Informed1, The provincial drag is an interesting concept. But might it not be countered by the change factor -- remember three and a half years leads to at ...
• Thanks! Will get back to you, ASAP.
• Informed1, Wow! Talk about a contradiction in terms in the same poll. I'll do broad strokes because it's late and thanks to you, we've both seen the numbers...
• Syld, Thanks for the update. I'm pleased with what you have outlined. My fondest wish is to see the best of the best from the traditional Liberal team integ...
• Informed1, On Buy American, I don't see Congress providing any relief whatsoever. They would be crazy to do so. Anyone voting for that could kiss their incu...
• CBC News EKOS poll. As I look over the EKOS results, I'm finding much to my amazement, that entrenched resistance to even the possibility of a federal elect...
• Informed1, Agreed but then it becomes a wash politically for Harper. You can't give credit to four ASIL dragon "slayers"...at least rhetorically speaking!
• Informed1, Agreed that all party leaders are fair game. Agreed that negative ads often work. Agreed that personal support for Michael has softened. But that...
• Syld, Nice one! Give that man a cigar (or preferably, one made of chocolate) if he is a wise non-smoker.
• Informed1, There is only one constant in the universe: our various Commissioners are usually the greatest thing since sliced bread when our party is in op...

New poll on effectiveness and impact of Ignatieff attack ads (2009-06-08)

• Any Reasonable Person Would Say... It isn't easy taking a decision that could change this country profoundly, either for the better -- or the worst. Once y...
• Informed1, We've arrived at "crunch time". Since I'm neither Leader of the Opposition or Prime Minister (Thank God.), your questions are, to quote Preside...
• Informed1, Lisa not only has problems with the opposition parties -- she made the big mistake of crossing her own Prime Minister and now she's going to pa...

Liberal advantage over Tories widens (2009-06-06)

• Nik, If Canadians are seeking "stability and solutions", it logically flows from that assertion that that means long-term political stability to address our...

Nanos poll shows Canadians think Oliphant Inquiry poor use of tax dollars - mixed on necessity (2009-05-11)

• Tom, There are only two things we can be sure of about the Oliphant Commission: 1. We can bet the farm on the fact that the Commission will never find ...
• Warning: High Maintenance Zone Just Ahead! They say this person is extraordinarily high maintenance...and can't keep any staff. Don't take my word for it -...
• The Giorno Test. When push comes to shove, watch for the Giorno test. The Prime Minister's Chief of Staff, Guy Giorno is in his job because he knows how to ...
• Gordon Campbell Wins. Can't you just hear all those "brilliant" Conservative strategists talking in the PMO about how they have a plan -- they will work t...
• Jack, They should just resign themselves to defeat -- Stephen Harper is no Jean Charest. His quota of Hail Mary Passes is up. Out he goes as soon as an elec...
• Jack, I'm surprised the Prime Minister hasn't yet asked either the NDP or the Bloc to join his "progressive" government as coalition partners. After all, ...
• Doing Politics The Conservative Way: A Race To The Bottom Of The Sewer. Are any of you surprised to see what the new Conservative ads are like? Aren't the...
• Jack, He won't pull the plug. He didn't do it last December. He certainly won't do it now. I could be wrong but somehow I seriously doubt that I am.
• As for the Liberals, my best advice is to hold off until the fall.
• Myriam Taschereau Has Left The PMO. Myriam Taschereau has apparently resigned from the Communications branch of the PMO. Rumours have it that Taschereau wi...
• Jack, Which of the following scenarios would you prefer if you were the Conservative leader: We will take for granted that the leader knows intellectua...
• Larry, There are so many definitions of the different types of Conservatives. For my part, I would say that William F. Buckley best represents this school...
• Jack, If you are on the right track, the best case scenario for Harper is political stalemate with him remaining as prime minister -- of course, that theo...
• Federal Patronage In Quebec: Provincial Liberals Get To Run The Table. Politics is a funny thing. Yesterday's friend is tomorrow's enemy and vice-versa. We ...
• Just Call Him General Maginot. His surname may be Harper but in my mind, our Prime Minister will always be General Maginot -- the guy who will fight the nex...
• Guy Giorno - Part II. Tact and diplomacy may be missing (as reported in the excellent piece by Jennifer Ditchburn of The Canadian Press) but in practical t...
• Jack, Not only is that too Machiavellian but it can't work for another reason: Harper goes through chiefs of staffs (and communications directors) like a st...
• Jack, Who has to sign off on all the ads. He does. Again, people are not idiots.
• Why Harper Has To Be Defeated THIS FALL. Today's Question Period program on CTV was a mighty sorry sight...it didn't take a genius to see how things will un...
• Informed1, You have no idea how comforting it is to see that you haven't mellowed one bit during your extended absence. Welcome back, I think?
• Informed1, Perhaps during your hiatus you were able to find the Harper government's environmental regulations -- you know the ones, those that have been M...
• Hey Informed1 - why don't you try an avatar of Michelle Obama. Using her husband's picture didn't do much for your alter ego but why don't you give it a s...
• Nova Scotia Election: Paging Premier Dexter? How did the first debate go? Did NDP leader Darrell Dexter succeed in protecting his lead in the polls? A Corp...
• Jack, Harper is too busy calculating the seat count of his majority government. Ha, ha, ha!
• A Strong Federal Government And Strong Provinces. Boy, did I ever get a laugh when I heard our Prime Minister say that Michael Ignatieff is a Trudeau Libe...
• Nova Scotia: Is The Air Starting To Come Out Of The NDP Balloon? I hope Novadog reads this. It should provide some comfort regarding the social-democrats. I...
• EI Dictionary. Misrepresentation: to take a stated position and to transform it verbally into something it's not -- in a desperate attempt at maintaining th...
• Jack, Perhaps I should have tried that when I was still a Conservative! Unreal. Beyond words.
• Syld, Informed1 can recognize a rapidly sinking ship when he sees one. That's why he has once again honoured us with his presence. Even Harper can't s...
• Jack, Does this mean that Harper is leaving with Bernier designated as his dauphin? After reading Julie's book and the unflattering comments in it concerni...
• Jack, Not another Harper Taurus. Why can't they all be like this one (me) a real sweetheart. No wonder I was so predisposed toward Belinda.
• Syld, Thank God you aren't a mental health practioner.
• CHOIR NOTICE. Conservative Party members are reminded that in spite of the trials and tribulations over the debate on Employment Insurance that choir practi...
• Syld, There is nothing more satisfying than trusting in the good judgment of the Canadian people. It will set us free.
• Jack, I don't know about you but the federal government can raise my taxes anytime as long as the Prime Minister's retirement is part of the package! That...
• Presiding Over A "Career-Ender". When the Canadian deity was looking for a way to keep the hurting going, he came up with the job of Finance Minister! Man...
• The New Harper: Mr. Congeniality? Can't you feel the heat rising...Canada's Rodney King, otherwise known as Finance Parliamentary Secretary Ted Menzies, say...
• Larry, Gerry Ritz is the Agriculture minister. You received a 10 percenter - a free mailing targeting Ruby's riding. They think they can knock her off nex...
• Larry, Let's just say that the latest news that came out in the last few days doesn't exactly "bolster" the nannies' case. I agree with you. Ruby will win...
• Informed1, I've said before and will repeat it again: if your party's strategy works, what will that say about my strategic take on things...and my involvem...
• Informed1, Your analysis of past Liberal governments is interesting, to say the least. What you fail to take into account about today's voting reality ...
• And You Thought The Olympics Were in Vancouver. I hate to break your bubble, but for Conservatives, the Olympics are about to be held in Ottawa -- in August...
• Some Great Canadian "PATRIOT"... A great patriot is someone who dares to dream the impossible dream -- someone who strives for greatness in all that is acco...
• Syld, Time to be exceedingly careful. Notice how I'm not commenting on Liberal strategy at this important juncture in the history of our country.
• Jack, What's you take on Paradis and Durand doing conference calls in Quebec yesterday? Seems the Conservatives want their candidates in place, pronto. (Pr...
• Smile Jack. Join me and just smile! Good things are coming for both of us. Faith is indeed wondrous to behold. We can't dissect an action plan. Neither of u...
• Syld, Westerner is playing it low key these days. He recently got "direction" from the top. But don't mistake his performance for that of an automaton. He ...
• Jack, You are such a perceptive gentleman. I greatly admire that. Personally, I prefer the fall but recent events do seem to add some momentum to speculati...
• Informed1 - What About That Conservative Majority Government? The silence sure is deafening. Where's the head Harper cheerleader? Is he too busy sending out...
• Larry, Actually, that shot seems to have been meant for Syld. I agree that his last response is indeed beneath him. He really should know better but I susp...
• Larry, I WANT the likes of Informed1 and Canadian to post here. Remember, they do a far better job of undermining this Conservative government than any of u...
• Informed1, Nice to see that you appreciate my contribution here. I'm grateful and will endeavour to adequately fulfill my obligations!
• Jack, Are you ever on target. That guy has nothing -- and I mean nothing. There is no life jacket...perhaps he should consider changing his moniker to Incre...
• Informed1, For the record, I don't believe in tarring an entire party with the antics of a particular leader. And I mean, any party and any leader. That is ...
• Informed1, As you well know by now, I'm active politically with one purpose in mind. As you also know, I suspended that purpose while in government until th...
• Jack, You'll never get an answer on that because respectfully, your premise is wrong: Harper is not now, nor has he ever been a Conservative. He is a libert...
• Jack, He's lasted a lot longer than I would have predicted. I had him pegged as a one-term PM. Like countless others, I made the serious mistake of underest...
• Jack, That guy is as sane as you or I am. His strategic thinking may be erratic at times but he is all there in the head. Mental mind games and unexpected o...
• The Noose Is Tightening. Jack Layton's interview on Question Period was revealing: the NDP leader made it clear that his party will not use the first opposi...
• Jack, That's not how I read it. But I could be wrong. Clarification awaits!
• Jack, Poor Harper. More sleepless nights ahead. But hey, he wanted the big job and now he's got it!
• Informed1, You don't seem to know your own leader very well. Remember what I said, he knows how to spell C - A - V - E, and it's coming a lot sooner than yo...
• Informed1, Didn't you read my piece on Senator Elizabeth Dole and why she lost her Senate race last November? Didn't that provide you with some evidence ho...
• Informed1, As for the federalist vote in Quebec City, it along with the soft nationalist vote is returning to the Liberal camp. Even Conservatives are comin...
• In other words, Westerner, you are confirming my prediction that the Prime Minister will take a few deep breaths -- and then cave BIG TIME.
• Westerner, Why don't you treat Syld to lunch and have some wine or a few beers. You can certainly afford it! Both of you are a lot alike even though neither...
• Remember Westerner, MRM and I get along great (most of the time...) and we're not even on the same team anymore. Hope he is well.
• Larry, Not everyone in politics chooses to play the game honorably. Some get their jollies unmasking people who are merely exercising their democratic right...
• Westerner, It is for each of us to choose our own path, isn't it.
• Larry, I respect their right to express themselves. In some cases, I happen to also respect what they say even when I disagree with it. That is my point. I...
• Larry, They HAVE to do that -- that's quite literally all they've got. They don't even have a bucket to piss in, to paraphrase Vice-President John Nance Gar...
• Larry, Can I bore you with a little story. When I started to take a keen interest in politics (even though I followed it more or less since childhood), Bria...
• Informed1, Here is some more of my fuzzy math: A + B = C Decoded for your information: A = Informed1 is pushing for a June election via the instr...
• And Now For Something Completely Different... Pittsburgh or Detroit -- and in how many games? (So far Detroit leads the series 2-0.) Warning: I know...
• Informed1, It may come as breaking news to you but no one in a political party supports 100% of the platform. Check with Harper -- even he doesn't supp...
• Syld, I have a lot of time for Ray Heard. Unfortunately (for Stéphane Dion), Mr. Heard had the guts to say out loud what everyone else was whispering. As mu...
• One Voice... Measuring Conservative discontent is not easy to do. On the one hand, you have people like Jack who want Stephen Harper gone yesterday. Jack be...
• Larry, You should see how he operates behind the scenes...it's a wonder to behold unless you are on the receiving end.
• Lisa Raitt. Ouch!, courtesy of CTV National News.
• Jack, Poor Mike. He should have stayed in journalism -- he is not exactly helping himself these days...
• Watch Nicholson Run With The Ball! Now that Karl-Heinz Schreiber has been discharged as a witness before the Oliphant Commission, watch for Justice Minist...
• Informed1, When last I checked, no decision had been made! I expect one next week. Do you really think that hard core left-of-center party supporters w...
• Jack, Their story is simply not credible. If the Minister did not have anything to do with it, why did she OFFER her resignation to the Prime Minister? ...
• Larry, I could be wrong but Schreiber is the only guy with the answers. The German government will have fun trying to make the charges stick without his c...
• Larry, I doubt any company keep records. As for Brian Mulroney, he doesn't know anything about Schreiber's activities in Germany so IMHO that's out.
• Election Tea Leaves. There was the Prime Minister in my hometown (I know, a shameless plug to attract tourists!) droning on against the possibility of an el...
• Westerner, Don't expect to make much mileage with yesterday's clunker. Trying to tie sponsorship to a probable future Ignatieff government is like trying ...
• Westerner, As we both well know from past experience, your powers as a clairvoyant are not exactly your strong suit.
• Informed1, Promise us all here that you will be present and accounted for on election night. One of us will be dishing in to a rather large helping of cro...
• Mark Carney. Congratulations to the Governor of the Bank of Canada on his economic forecast. Perhaps I should study Economics as a second career: I was on...
• Westerner, That's for me to know and you to find out!
• Westerner, The gas is already out of that balloon. Too bad you can't see it. Sponsorship is now in the tidying up phase. Nothing more.
• We'll take it in as it rolls out...
• Informed1, Please cast your eyes upward seven posts. I think that says it all.
• Informed1, You have such a talent for writing. Why don't you try and write a book. However, trust me -- stick to FICTION. That's really your area of exper...
• Informed1, Your other talent is putting words in posters' mouths. My comment was directed at your remarks regarding Michael -- nothing more. I do not r...
• A Message For Jack. It's interesting to watch UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown fighting for his political life in the midst of four cabinet resignations. Se...
• Jack, You must find it somewhat disappointing that no other Conservatives seem to be rallying to your cause. I guess they are afraid of being identified a...
• Jack, At least you have one highly discreet ally: Laureen. She must be itching to get back to Calgary just about now...
• Jack, How long do you think it will take before she "checkmates" Harper!?
• Larry, Ruby is at the TOP of the CPC hit list: those roughly twenty ridings that they hope to take from the Liberals in the next campaign. Those poor ...
• Worth checking out David Akin's On The Hill blog entry for last Wednesday (June 3rd).
• Larry, Is anyone surprised at the lengths they will go...it is precisely those tactics and a lot of other crap that will send them back into opposition wh...
• Informed1, What's wrong? You're strangely silent. Shouldn't you be telling us how all those Liberals in Ontario will soon be toast? Cat got your tongu...
• Jack, He's definitely NOT crying. He's saving all his tears for election night when Harper goes down in a blaze of electoral retribution.
• Informed1, Ruby will win. Think voter backlash against one of the two nannies. Also think NDP vote collapse to send a clear message to the Conservatives -- ...
• Nanos vs. Ipsos-Reid. Let's put out the numbers side by side and simply contrast. We won't bother with methodology, sample size or even accuracy as this exe...
• Informed1, I expect to see the Bloc and Liberals bunched up. That means some seats will change hands but no massive trend toward one particular party in my ...
• Jack, If these two polls are an extension of a semi-previous trend, we're looking at a Liberal minority win in the event of an election. Now there's the ru...
• Informed1, Conservatives are many things including cunning. I always try to remember that. As you know, nothing is more important than family time. One day...
• Not touching that one with a ten foot pole. And for the record, I did not laugh.
• Jack, Each party had better do its homework in preparation for "crunch" time. The party that fails to capture the public mood will suddenly experience a con...
• Jack, I wouldn't want to have to square the lesser of two evils circle! I feel kind of sorry for both the Bloc and the NDP -- which way do you go to ensure ...
• Jack, Respectfully, I don't see how the CPC can gain much traction -- even if a new leader could be installed. Our Prime Minister has chosen to run out the ...
• Jack, How would you do it? How can a prime minister be convinced quickly to resign and a new leader chosen either by the membership or at a delegated conven...

Stimulus, sure - just watch the cost - Nanos Comments for the GTR Economic Summit (2009-05-07)

• Hollinm, One can argue the merits of providing low-interest loans or capital for specific make-work projects or industries. Doing something that is politica...
• Gerry L, Your analysis strikes me as correct but incomplete -- remember that two new crown jewels will eventually join the traditional two -- Saskatchewan a...
• Money Flowing Gets Governments Re-Elected. Personally, I'm really surprised to find out that Kevin Lynch, Clerk of the Privy Council, will be retiring short...
• Jack, Speaking only strategically (and not as a partisan), one would have thought that the Prime Minister would have seen this coming if the alleged persona...
• Jack, Perhaps they have forgotten that the cat in each party signs the nomination papers...the pussycat may turn out to be a lion for a lot of them -- but h...
• Hollinm, Let me put myself in the Prime Minister's head once again. Let's see how successful my personal theory is: I suspect Harper is waiting for all this...
• Just ask the ghost of the Leonard C. Jones, former Moncton, New Brunswick mayor. Robert Stanfield refused to sign his nomination papers. He went on to be ele...
• Gilles Duceppe: Going Out Of His Way To Not "Get It" In Quebec. Smile, Michael, smile. Goods times in Quebec are not far off, especially now that parts of t...
• Peggy, With respect, you're wrong. Remember how both Duceppe and Layton said the Harper government could not be trusted. Logically, that meant it had to be ...
• A Visit to Doctor Defeat's Office. Sometimes, even the best of friends can suddenly find themselves on the outs. Some relationships are of a prickly charact...
• Jack, You lost me in the last paragraph! The Prime Minister's troubles in cabinet are non-existent (for obvious reasons, in addition to 260K...) his caucus ...
• BC Election. If the polls are to be believed, Liberal Gordon Campbell will soon be on his way to another term as BC premier. That begs the obvious political...
• Jack, Watch Harper move to seriously change the channel on Tuesday...for obvious political reasons. He will play the card of wedge politics once again. Whet...
• That Great Conservative "Tidal Wave"! There he was, the Prime Minister of Canada all puffed up in front of 2300 Conservative Party faithful in Montreal ye...
• Syld, Apparently, what is circulating in Conservative circles is that 1500 people paid but that many did not want to show up so they gave the tickets away...
• Jack, Again going with my gut (for whatever it's worth -- or not worth!) Every fibre of my being is screaming out to me that Harper is up to something and I...
• Informed1, I need another laugh! Why don't you repeat the Prime Minister's hilarious comment that Christian Paradis is the Bloc's biggest nightmare...I don'...
• Informed1, Perhaps you should check with the PMO -- you seem to be off the reservation. You're slipping, again! I don't think the Prime Minister is smiling ...
• Jack, Even Informed1 wouldn't be foolish enough to attempt to refute your points. He knows full well in his heart of hearts that Harper is, at best, a C-gra...
• Kissing Off Louis-Hébert And Québec Ridings! I want to thank the Conservative Party of Canada for making this Liberal's day. It was amusing enough to see th...
• Jack, Harper knows that some of his base is a reflection of the twilight zone. Even he does not endorse their views. Thank God. The PM must be really kickin...
• Syld, That's the wonderful thing about this great country of ours. We all love Canada -- with a Charter that guarantees our right to freedom of expression. ...
• Jack, And they said politics was sleazy business. Go figure...

Close federal race continues - Tories down in Quebec up in Ontario (2009-05-02)

• That *&^%$#@ Is Seriously Cutting Into Our Support In Ontario. I don't know about the rest of you but I'm pissed off, big time. This poll reveals that he ha...
• Syld, They are pumping everything but the kitchen sink into Ontario -- their war chest is +25 million dollars...they are focused like a laser beam on Ontari...
• Peggy, Michael's response on taxes was clarified. No one wants to raise taxes. However, we have to maintain and indeed expand programs in the areas which ar...
• Jack, This is not that significant given the extremely large Conservative base, especially in Alberta. It's only in the West that the Conservative brand str...
• Jooge, Perhaps you should consult with that female cabinet minister who came out more than once in tears from the PMO. Yes -- that is our kind of "leadership".
• Hollinm, The policy conference is coming up next. Please stay tuned.
• Hollinm, What I wouldn't give to have Chrétien out stumping across Ontario in the next campaign. The old warhorse hasn't lost it. That speech was vintage Ch...
• Peggy, You should change the title on those cards to crapping points. Nice to see that the Conservative strategy has reverted to its true nature. I hope you...
• Hollinm, Don't crow too quickly. Wait and watch. The fall will be instructive.
• Hollinm, Harper has a boat load of character and personality flaws -- somehow he managed to make it into the PM's chair - twice.
• Hollinm, You sound like the political reincarnation of Prime Minister Joe Clark...
• Hollinm, It is an exceedingly cheap shot and we both know it.
• Hollinm, Of course Harper will crash and burn once the PM personally takes charge of strategy. Remember no one has more talent for undoing his own governmen...
• Hollinm, I like political winners -- not half-winners. You know, the guys who go out there and are capable of winning majority governments. The guys who hav...
• No Hollinm. We won't see a coalition movie sequel.
• Hollinm, An argument like that borders on frenzied panic. It can't and won't hold water.
• Hollinm, Might as well not use it. It's tired. Clark did not see the wave coming either.
• Hollinm, Respectfully, don't make me laugh. If it hadn't been for Mulroney, there would have be no merger. MacKay followed Mulroney's lead. As for winning ...
• Hollinm, Let's wait and watch, shall we?
• Hollinm, Betterment of the country, my foot. More like attempting to save one's political ass on a file by file basis.
• Political Suicide 101 Manual. Hi, my name is federal political party "A". As a proponent of assisted-suicide, could you please give me some advice on how I ...
• Jack, This is like beating a dead horse. Harper's letter is no longer relevant to the current political dynamic. No point in commenting further. We're into...
• Jack, If it happens, it will also make Harper sick. But he will quickly get over it -- being so in love with power and willing to do whatever it takes to ke...
• Jack, A Prime Minister's job is to make Canada an ever-greater country and to bring out the best in all Canadians. If Stephen Harper sees this nation as a ...
• Jack, No one can get any traction with that speech from the Stone Age. Like all thinkers, his positions have evolved -- being PM is a life-changing experien...
• Tom, I will go one step further. Look to the exact nature of the "swing-voter": is it due to a desire for political change -- to put a tired government out ...
• Tom, A key component of the Prime Minister's strategy, in my view, has been to go out fishing with the gillnets -- precisely to capture as much of the swing...
• That Ongoing Uneasy Conversation In Maine. It isn't easy being the stimulus package triplets...especially now that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter has re...
• Westerner, Why are you being so intellectually dishonest? Michael said at his press conference that the party will push for cap and trade with hard caps on ...
• MRM. I miss our sparring matches. I hope he is not ill. Can anyone give us an update?
• Jack, How do you rate Ignatieff's performance at the convention? Is he off to a good start against the Prime Minister? Do you think he should be rolling out...
• Westerner, You've left me speechless. P.S. So far Campbell is pretty solid in the BC election debate.
• Thank you. I think!
• Tom Good And Others: Who Won Or Performed Best In The BC Leader's Debate Tonight? Was it a three-way draw? Or did one leader do better than the other two? ...
• Jack, He has to come out with a platform sometime in the late summer or early fall. That is a requirement to be seriously considered as an alternative gover...
• Tom, The Bloc propped up Harper once before. Surely they learned a significant lesson last time and will not make that mistake again. We will see.
• Jack, My particular favourite is that lady from Manitoba who owns a farm with her husband. When I first heard her, she was calling herself "Rose". She has...
• Tom, Thanks so much for the excellent description of the political climate. I really enjoyed it. Like the pundits, I found they were all good and prett...
• Bernie, You are a better man that I am. I want to knock Harper solidly out of the ballpark -- that means a Liberal majority. I want the Prime Minister ...
• Hollinm, You can throw the heavens, earth and stars at us and we will STILL beat you.
• Hollinm, I don't deal in "ifs" - I deal in results. You know results, the thing Harper hasn't got. Otherwise known as EVEN one majority government...
• Harper's time is up. I know it and more importantly, so does HE...
• Hollinm, Nope. Harper blew his chance when he didn't go in December. He had a chance for a majority but didn't have the guts. That's the name of that story.
• You have to learn how to win a majority...a foreign concept, I know, since you haven't seen one since '88...
• Hollinm, What don't you just ask him how scared I am. Remember, I met him personally four (4) times before and after Jamieson and I tried to remove him as...
• Hollinm, To begin with, once the Conservatives came to power we both chose to cease and desist. I had worked for the CPC at the riding level in 2004, 2006...
• Watch The Prime Minister Spell: C A V E. Our Prime Minister is a man with a short fuse, when he doesn't get his way (which isn't very often). No wonder he w...
• Hollinm, I have made many direct references and indirect ones (remember this is not my first time at bat) to the past. Besides it is news to very few since...
• Syld, Poor Bob, he forgot all about the hair stylist!
• How many other provincial Progressive Conservatives will be joining MPP Christine Elliott in her opposition to the EI work benchmark that is in effect in Ont...
• Jack, Women and young people tend to reflect much of the left-of-center voting demographic. While they may support fiscal discipline, they are also generall...
• Jack, My gut says Liberal majority; my eyes and brain say Liberal minority with the poll snapshots up until today. If Harper pulls off another minority -- I...
• Jack, You certainly are much better at crunching the numbers than I am. You have a gift. Hopefully, you will be able to make (or make once again) a valued c...

Nanos Poll: Environment Trumps Prosperity for Oil Sands Development (2009-03-25)

• Utopian Politics vs. In-Your-Face Reality. Wouldn't it just be nice to live up on Mount Olympus with the gods. What a contrast, to exist in a clearly etched...
• Jack, This Prime Minister is a seasoned practitioner of the art of selective recall of the facts. Harper believes in hammering away over and over again his ...
• Larry, They won't be amending the U.S. constitution anytime soon. They wouldn't even do it for a nice guy like Ahnold!
• "Legislative capacity", My Ass! Well, well, nice to see the great chess master has found time to pull another rabbit out of his hat, while in Europe no less...
• Larry, Harper is looking for it and will get it, IMHO. Not a smart strategy unless you happen to be an opposition party supporter! As you know, I have no pr...
• PMO, Otherwise Known As Desperation Central. No doubt about it, the Prime Minister's Office is now in full containment mode -- panic has set in as it finall...
• Jack, Do you think the party will split in two or do you believe as many Conservatives do that it will somehow hold together even if Harper tanks? I don't ...
• Jack, Our prime minister was out of the picture. Either way, it seems to have had something to do with his briefs! Is this perhaps a hint of what divine pr...
• P R O R O G A T I O N. The gift that just keeps on giving...to the Liberals. No wonder Prime Minister Stephen Harper can't get any shut eye. He certainly ha...
• Those Poor Conservative Dolts. Canadians are a good-natured bunch. We recognize all too easily the common foibles afflicting our fellow mere mortals populat...
• Jack, Jean Charest was the exception to the general rule. I agree with you that Harper's days are numbered.
• Jack, We're talking Jean Charest I and III -- not the same humble man known as Jean Charest II who had a minority government. His popularity is droppi...
• That Precious Moral Compass. It's so reassuring to know that at least one person in Ottawa is deemed qualified to judge his political counterparts...some ...
• Jack, That guy is an obvious wingnut, who fortunately for Canadians, is not a reflection of our political parties.
• Quebec Conservatives: Let The Tail Chasing Begin! I've had a good political day. It started out great reading Joël-Denis Bellavance's piece in La Presse. It...
• Jack, No question that it will be an uphill battle for the Liberals off the island of Montreal. In my view, squaring the messaging circle will be critical t...
• Don Plett Says Mulroney Has To Pay To Join. Conservative Party President Don Plett says there is only one membership category in the CPC -- the paying kind,...
• Tom, Excellent analysis of the situation. I think you have it right. My own interpretation, flawed though it may be, is that we Liberals (still not quite us...
• Sitting Out The Next Election In Quebec - Conservative-Style. Was anyone really surprised to learn that while in Europe the master tactician signed off on p...
• Tom, Agreed. Harper seems to want to take Canadians to a place where we don't want to be led. For the most part, we like Canada just as it is and consider o...
• Nanos Readers: Time To Speak Up! With the future of Canada in the balance, it's time for each of you to take a more active part in influencing public opinio...
• Larry, I don't see the coalition as a good wedge issue for the Liberals in Quebec. Remember, most of Quebec was solidly behind the coalition, even across th...
• Larry, I could be wrong but I think Western Canada does not have a burning desire to join the U.S. Even if we succeed in sinking Harper, I doubt it will be ...
• LOL.
• Elf, I can't argue with your comment.
• Jack, No question, things look rather bleak for the CPC. I suspect that next Wednesday's caucus meeting will be a doozy...especially with the Ekos numbers u...
• So Long Stephen Harper: Liberal Majority Government In The Offing. As a proponent of the shifting ground political theory, I believe that voting patterns as...
• Something To Think About For Michael Ignatieff. Walter Mondale accepting his party's nomination for president in 1984: "Mr. Reagan will raise taxes, and so...
• Syld, Congratulations. You've really come at it from an interesting angle. I did not see this at all.
• Channeling Jack and Gilles. I like it when Tom Flanagan decides to get a little mischievous: writing in the Globe and Mail, he suggests that Michael Ignatie...
• Conservative Fortunes: Going Past Distress And Depression To Despair. As a former Conservative, I have some sympathy for the Tory rank and file. These are n...
• Jack, You know how people are -- they will bitch and complain about an election and its cost and then the voting class will go right out and stick Harper in...
• Larry, Remember the old proverb: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." The Conservative Con Job perpetrated by Harper is over. He is ou...
• Jack, Stephen Harper believes in the superiority of his political positions and electoral strategies. The poor man is so self-deluded it isn't even funny. I...
• Jack, You and Michael C. will both be seen later as wise men by a defeated party. They chose to be blind, deaf and dumb instead...
• Another Conservative who has pleaded on this site with his party to dump Harper since the latter can't win in a month of Sundays.
• Jack, Harper has admitted publicly that mistakes have been made by his government but I've yet to hear him take personal responsibility and wear any of thos...
• Jack, Take it from someone who lived it. I was on the phone several times a week with Carol Jamieson in 2005. I have nothing but admiration for her and what...
• Tearing Down Stephen Harper One Poll At A Time. With the release of the latest Canadian Press-Harris/Decima poll, it's apparent that momentum continues in t...
• Jack, I expect quite a rout -- except for fortress Alberta. They had two good chances: in May 2007 and last December. They weren't sufficiently politic...
• Remember Jack -- laugh and the whole world laughs with you! At least the political world in Ottawa is relishing this moment as Harper finally gets his just d...
• Omar Khadr: Watching The Ever-Predictable Stephen Harper In Action. Our poor Prime Minister just doesn't get it. Seemingly everyone else in Canada is capabl...
• Jack, So nice to see them at the "top" of their game! (Wink, wink, wink.)
• Jack, Good old Lawrence puts his foot in his mouth. I guess no one will put him in the same league as Hillary Rodham Clinton, David Miliband or Bernard Kouc...
• P.S. The Khadrs aren't in Canada because of flawed policy. They are here because of Omar's brother -- shall we call it his "connection" to the security servi...
• Transitioning from "Garth Who?" to "Stephen When?". The clever fellow is at it again. Can't help but wonder if the guy was smart enough to think of it himse...
• Larry, The sooner he's gone, the better off the country will be. Back to Calgary ASAP, IMHO.
• Larry, I don't see Alberta leaving Canada anytime soon even with Harper at the helm. Those poor people -- they don't deserve to suffer like that...
• Ontario and British Columbia: The King-Maker Provinces? A Toronto Star/Angus Reid Poll reveals that Conservative support is on the rise in both Ontario and ...
• Jack, Your points are well taken. I should have also gone over to the site before writing that. Of course, you are correct that one polling company's method...
• Jack, How much fading do you think the "other" Jack will do? Will a lot of NDP support bleed off to the Liberals thanks to a good Liberal campaign or can th...
• Jack, I think you are pretty much on the money. In fact, I would say your analysis is better than mine. Watch Harper turn social democrat in the next econom...
• Watching Stephen Harper Fume and Squirm. These are definitely not Stephen Harper's days of wine and roses as prime minister. I can't help but watch in amuse...
• Jack, If that is all he has as political strategy, boy is his goose ever cooked. Do you agree with me that his disenchanted base will be rather inclined to ...
• Then they are nuts - wacko. He's lost the center for sure if he follows that course. His government is history. I should have a pretty good election night.
• Jack, Once Harper is gone, do you think the party will hold together? Or will history once again repeat itself with two rump parties? This is another reason...
• If that doesn't take the cake...he betrays them politically by becoming a temporary closet moderate and they will rush to his rescue. Perhaps he should also ...
• Jack, We both know them so well. The first series of ads have to already be in the can. Personally, I'm not expecting them before June. They will throw ever...
• Jack, That guy deserves the shaft, big time. But the rest of you sure don't. What a selfish, self-centered, arrogant demi-god he is.
• That means we'll have one good honourable fight after the next election if we both choose to stick around for the after, after the next one. They will be luc...
• Hey Canadian, Is The Water Getting Too Hot For You? Funny, I thought you would have apologized to Nik by now to get back in the game. You know things haven'...
• Jack, Do you think Canadian will resurface or has he really given up on taking us on? Something tells me he is up to something. Canadian does not strike me...
• Jack, Canadian is a clever man. He had points. It was always my impression that he was a bit too clever for his own good. Don't you agree? His is a devious...
• Jack, Canadian knew exactly what he was doing. Can't tell you how much pleasure he got playing me like a violin. It was rather galling realizing how he had ...
• Syld, Quite clearly, this was a tag-team effort with Canadian calling the shots. If he returns, so will they. Or as Jack said, Canadian may return under a n...
• Jack, I only see one possible out for them. Correct me if I'm wrong. I know you may not be a lawyer but is it also your impression that the government can s...
• Maxime Bernier. Being in the political doghouse takes some time getting used to. Maxime Bernier has been on his personal visit to purgatory ever since he re...
• Jack, I would bet my last dollar that he will go down fighting, even if he doesn't really have the stomach for it. I think the NCC thing will be a key indic...
• Jack, If he does go, he will have to do it quickly. I don't see how the party can get in a leadership race between now and the fall if the opposition is det...
• Jack, Another thing he will have to consider is the optics. Remember, Mulroney bailed because he knew what was coming and it wouldn't be pretty. (All this B...
• Bloc And Liberals Rejoice As Conservative Daggers Are Brandished Inward. It's interesting to watch the Conservative Party tearing itself apart at the seam...
• Omar Khadr: Expect An Appeal. The world of intelligence "sources and methods" is a murky one. Sometimes it becomes necessary to protect individuals involv...
• Psiclone, You sound just like the Prime Minister. If I didn't know better I would almost think he was sending mental telepathy to you...you expect either ...
• Cameron-Envy. Conservatives are known to be good drinkers. They would have to be these days with party fortunes on a down slope. And if they needed anything...
• The Employment Insurance Federal Election. Well folks, it's all but inevitable in my book. With an 8 per cent unemployment rate -- a seven year high, it doe...
• Jack, Can't you just see the grey cells activating in Harper's mind. He wants an election this fall because he's convinced he can pull it out. The guy bel...
• Forgotten Again This Year... I must confess to a little disappointment this morning. It seems the Prime Minister forgot my birthday card again this year. ...
• Syld, If you can brief us on the public aspects, your insight would be appreciated! Have a good time. Tell Michael we are all with him.
• Syld, Eventually you will get a drink for delivering this poll news to me.
• Peggy, If the Harper government is defeated in the House of Commons, no question we will be into an election campaign. As you may know, British parliamentar...
• The Mark Of True Leadership. Stephen Harper is a man who does not get much sleep. He's tense, stressed, anxious and perhaps a little angry. Remember the old...
• Jack, You know, I think L. Ian MacDonald has a delicious sense of humour. I will grant you that he has an agenda as part of the Mulroney line but he does in...
• Fifty Pink Flamingos... I hope the Prime Minister had a nice birthday party. Turning fifty is indeed a personal milestone. I for one was pleased to see what...
• Sorry, that should be tizzy. (Time for bed.)

Liberals and Conservatives still close - Trend favours the Liberals at the expense of the NDP (2009-03-21)

• Hollinm, The Prime Minister is in the midst of trying to organize and fight a rear-guard action. That political strategy is doomed to failure, either sooner...
• Hollinm, Barack Obama came out of nowhere, took off and won the presidency because he was the agent of change. Our Prime Minister is many things -- the agen...
• Syld, The pot is boiling in the CPC. The Reform base is hopping mad. They can't remove Harper but they can stay home at election time and reduce or stop the...
• Canadian, We both know now that Obama has chosen to use a flawed political strategy aimed at enacting his political agenda. He has chosen to transfer the ha...
• President Obama is on 60 Minutes now on CBS.
• Finding Just The Right Brink. Politics is one tough slog. Reality often doesn't count while perception tends to be the name of the game. Scoring cheap polit...
• Bernie, Thanks. These leaders have to make some major course corrections -- no doubt about it. Is it too late for both of them? Theoretically, no. But ...

Nanos - UB Poll: Majorities in Canada and the US support greater co-operation (2009-02-18)

• Yes We Can Versus I Said No. Boy, am I surprised to see this summit going so well. I can't believe how much President Obama is smiling -- he's still at it...
• Quiet Liberal, There is no question that the PM has successfully established a good business relationship for Canada. But as you said, that is a long way ...
• Larry, I'm going to do something I never do: give you the whole unvarnished truth about the first time I spoke with the Prime Minister. Harper was running ...
• Michael C, Agreed but two phone conversations and one day in Ottawa don't make for a very deep examination of your respective counterpart.
• The Border And Security. I thought that the Prime Minister scored some points with the American media. When the PM says that any threat to the U.S. is also ...
• Canadian, Why don't you look up how protocol officers function. If memory serves, it is standard operating procedure for any head of state or government to ...
• Quiet Liberal, As you know, President Obama has a large heart. He is very concerned about the poverty in our own hemisphere. No one is surprised to learn th...
• Canadian, Emerson makes a good point. However, hopefully Canada will not follow one of his most recent suggestions: moving toward a customs union with the U...
• Harper Should Get An Honorary Oscar This Weekend For Most Shameful Performance. This doesn't happen very often as my friends can attest but our Prime Minist...
• Canadian, I guess that means you don't consider me a turncoat or coward, only a traitor.
• Peggy, Perhaps Michael is somewhat shy. You should have seen Stephen when he was opposition leader. He was rather timid. It is perhaps similar.
• Canadian, Don't pop the champagne corks just yet! That's like me saying how I have some confidence in Stephen Harper and believe he will be somewhat effecti...
• Michael C, Unless he decides not to run next time (after the Harper defeat), no question Jim Prentice will be the front runner in the race. Bernard Lord wil...
• Agreed, he is selling you out. As we've both said in our own way, Harper doesn't give a damn about the party of Macdonald and Cartier. All he cares about is ...
• Michael C, You are a better man than me to stay and fight. My strategy had been to wait Harper out...look how well that went. I wish you luck. Most of the p...
• "Canadian" Please Stop Crying. I know you're crushed. It must be quite a bitter pill to swallow but remember we are no longer in the salad days of Stephen H...
• A Bit Of Advice For Lawrence Cannon. Washington must be all a twitter knowing that the PM and his A Team have significant plans to invade the U.S. in the co...
• MRM, I never said the PM was involved in scheduling this meeting.
• Canadian, You are a even bigger simpleton than we thought. We wanted the coalition in power and never wanted to break up the country. Only you can't make th...
• Canadian, 2 comments: 1. Really nice try! 2. Dream on.
• Canadian, That's right, he doesn't play checkers. He's too busy destroying himself and his party politically! Go Stephen Go.
• Strategic Voting. For a change of pace, I just finished reading Alice Funke's piece on strategic voting. She points out that past electoral voter behaviour ...
• Vancouver West Reform, You should direct your attention to the PM. It was decided in the PMO in 2006 not to rock the boat regarding many federal commissions...
• Michael C, Remember when they cut the legs right out from under their own minister -- I'm talking poor Rona when she was environment minister. They micro-ma...
• Vancouver West Reform, So you want me to resign...from what exactly should I resign? I hope you don't mean the human race. I've already ditched the Conserva...
• Vancouver West Reform, You mean you can't wait to re-elect Campbell!
• Canadian, If you consider Michael a vapid ward boss then you must consider Stephen a common street fighter. Personally, I'll go with the former rather than ...
• Canadian, Please put on those reading glasses. As I said previously to MRM, I never said that the PMO or Harper were in any way involved in Michael's schedu...
• Come on Alice. It doesn't take all day to create another profile, as most of us well know!
• Canadian, Please exercise your god-given talent for statistical interpretation and take a gander at Senator Obama's voting record. You will find, much to yo...
• Vancouver West Reform, How can you talk like that after working all your life in financial services? Hello! We both know what would happen if the Chinese a...
• Canadian, Now that's truly profound: my outing about Harper thanks to your good self. That's like saying Dalton Camp was outed by Diefenbaker, or Judy LaMar...
• Michael C, When we moved against Harper in 2005, many a Prentice supporter were not exactly unsympathetic. However, if something happens this time, we won't...
• Canadian, Absolute balderdash. Michael knows full well that Canadians have no appetite whatsoever for a military extension in Afghanistan.
• Canadian, Fair enough. We'll wait and see. You are not exactly an amateur to politics. You know very well that the man has to get re-elected in four years. ...
• Canadian, Please re-read The Border And Security. On Afghanistan, it is time to cut our losses. The British lost three times in Afghanistan, the Soviet Uni...
• Michael C, With respect, you guys are clutching at straws if you think Harper will walk.
• Canadian, ..."reasonable opponents don't need to lower themselves by name calling", you mean like you, who was always all peaches and cream with Dion not to...
• Michael, I want a Liberal win next time. Don't get me wrong. But I take absolutely no joy in seeing how we will win. It won't be a fair fight thanks to Harp...
• Canadian, Why don't you place a call to Queen's Park. Have a chat with John Tory. It should be quite instructive. Reality isn't always pleasant but it is po...
• Canadian, Everyone loves a winner in politics. Poor Dion, he couldn't do it and that was obvious in the last campaign and particularly prior to the last vot...
• Poor Canadian, You will never see it until election night. Let me put it another way, statistics are like employment figures -- lagging indicators. The new...
• Canadian, Afghanistan is a double net negative for us. It's a war that can't be won militarily. It is not Iraq. An American surge can stabilize the situatio...
• Dead wrong. Though some greeted the Americans as liberators, the insurgency was a result of the Sunni and Shiite cleavages in Iraq. Shiites have been seen b...
• Canadian, Why don't you change your handle to elastic band. Boy are you ever good at stretching my views out to supposedly reflect what quite conveniently w...
• Just caught Lawrence Cannon on Les coulisses du pouvoir on Radio-Canada television: someone should really tell our Foreign Affairs Minister that Obama is a H...
• MRM, A Secretary of State is the equivalent of a Foreign Secretary or Minister. Right? Is a Head of State equivalent in law and in fact to a head of govern...
• Canadian, You're talking big picture scenarios. I'm talking internal country dynamics. Not the same thing. Get it?
• Canadian, The parties are neck and neck. That doesn't support your thesis but it does show our upward momentum.
• Fellow Carleton Undergraduate, Was your minor in irritating people? I suspect it thrills you to no end as you make ever increasing and successful attempts a...
• Canadian, Your views are perfectly clear. We'll see when the time comes.
• A Message For Parnel. I want to start out by saying how much I respect and yes, admire your longstanding personal commitment to the Liberal Party of Canada....
• I've taped it. Will watch QP now and of course, get back to you.
• MRM, OK even though Craig and Jane didn't like Lawrence's answers on a possible prime ministerial visit to China on Question Period, I will take it back sin...
• Canadian, I can only speak to point 2). Rae reiterated the party's support for the mission after 2011 in the areas of development and policing. As he said, ...
• Michael C, And I thought I didn't like Harper...Cléroux has really given Harper a broadside with all batteries firing. Personally, I prefer to keep Harper'...
• Canadian, Of course the mission is drifting. In my view, Michael was being kind and diplomatic. I would describe it otherwise but will refrain in the intere...
• It may be sad but all that flows from those "wonderful" Dion ads, repeated with great relish and reckless abandon by the CPC. This is the new political real...
• Canadian, So, I may have been right after all! But we certainly won't go over that ground again will we. I will refrain from calling you by that name becaus...
• Canadian, That site is excellent. I had a fast look recently. You know Canadian, I felt a twinge a while back -- it had something to do with the term "fact...
• Canadian, I scan blogs in my Favorites. But I must confess only on a semi-regular basis. I'm too busy doing all I can to earn the Prime Minister enough poin...
• Michael C, Canadian is excellent at selective recall, denial, bold-faced misleading, putting words in one's mouth and assorted other talents. I wonder whom ...
• Never said you did.
• One Canuck Opinion, It is one thing to take on politicians. Is is quite another to take on the public service. Nik had no choice but to take action. Posting...
• Happy Liberal, Canadian says that he is a man. I take him at his word. I have my own idea who he is but that is yesterday's news. Time to move on to somethi...
• Sorry forgot the other part - the site is not biased or a Tory mouthpiece.
• "Canadian" And Polls. I started thinking about something Canadian said to me. He does not believe in making electoral assumptions based on "one" poll. Why d...
• Canadian, I am projecting into the future. I have given you the general outlines of my idea. As polling rolls in, I will further expand on my idea. Perhaps ...
• One Canuck Opinion, I'm a risk taker in politics and in investments. What do you think of this? I've bought most of the U.S., British and continental Europe...
• One Canuck Opinion, On that specific issue, Diane Finlay and her department are working on it. Citizenship criteria is being narrowed and that has Canadians...
• One Canuck Opinion, Sorry to burst your bubble but the French won the first battle on the Beauport Flats. The British won on the Plains - the regular French...
• Canadian, You're too kind. As a former Conservative, you know that at my advanced age, I'm rather set in my ways.
• One Canuck Opinion, Good on you. You got me. Must be karmic payback for what I said about Lawrence Cannon. God I hope MRM sees this! Your second paragraph ...
• Boy are the callers ever feisty on Goldhawk Live tonight on CPAC!
• Canadian, I agree with your position on the Bloc. Again, get your head out of the rear view mirror. You strike me as a guy who has the old saying backward...
• Come on Canadian, we both know that fertile is a relative term. I'm not God. I do not know for sure. On February 23rd, I believe we will make gains in Quebec...
• Thank you. Will check it out later.
• The exercise is pointless when we are so far away from D-Day. If we both agree that it will be a transformative election that means one of us will get a majo...
• Peggy, It started getting feisty when that lady tried to insult Baird, Flaherty and someone else whom I won't name because Dale cut her off at the pass!
• Canadian, To my mind, a good electoral strategist is a combination of many factors: I will highlight three that guide me: up-to-date polling data across com...
• Canadian, A few preliminary remarks on the McGregor Analysis: firstly, in light of polling the coalition is not a winning issue for any of the then partner...
• Taking A Lesson From Richard M. Nixon. Many of us posters got extremely fired up during the coalition and prorogation crisis. That happened because each of ...
• Identifying Tipping Points. As we all know, politics is not a science but more of an art -- or to be more precise, a black art in recent times. Negative ads...
• Canadian, I take your point about the bills. I have to make this fast because I'm not yet at work. Apparently the PM is in the office at 7 -- he does have s...
• Canadian, At least get it right...the ouija board was only a metaphor for gut instinct. As you said, you see a CPC majority with under 40% of the vote, of...
• Canadian, On banking I will give Harper his due. He has either implemented, or continued the safeguards that previously existed and he gets top marks from...
• Canadian, I have only scanned this in other papers but not recently. If I understand correctly as a former journalist, the judge wants Daniel Leblanc to i...
• Canadian, Again a very fast answer because I have to be somewhere. You can start laughing now...my gut tells me that if the bills are obstructed either in...
• Canadian, For the Prime Minister to pretend that he did not have a willing partner on the environment in the U.S. is simply not credible. Harper moved as li...
• Canadian, Explain something to me. I used to be press myself. What is wrong with this logic? Why can't the PMO under Harper, Mulroney, Trudeau etc. not get ...
• I got the impression from the coverage tonight on CPAC that it's only the NDP doing the delaying...so far.
• Canadian, Again I concede the point, in part. But you will also concede that it would be interesting to compare Harper's critics in opposition from the line...
• Canadian, I have no expertise in this area. It is pointless for me to rebutt your specific points.
• Canadian, My main argument is not really there although I will say that Harper made an error regarding some of his ministers who were more competent at the ...
• Yes.
• Canadian, Do you think Mercer cried after eating that sandwich the PM made for him? I'll bet Laureen never lets him near the kitchen if she cooks occasionally!
• MRM, I'm pleased to hear of these developments. While I also applaud the Prime Minister for taking a strong stand on human rights, as you say, it is a que...
• What The Opposition Needs To Know About Stephen Harper. As some commentators on this blog have suggested, while most of us are playing strategic checkers ...
• Canadian, Funny how politics is a blood sport that has a rather amusing propensity for sooner or later, boiling its leaders and eating its young. I find t...
• That Damned Loyalty Thing! If you wonder why people go to Ottawa, there are a number of reasons: some go to make a difference and serve their country; oth...
• MRM, You know me slightly so you are in a unique position having been able to take the measure of the man. Now, bearing that in mind please respond to these...
• MRM, Forgive me for being skeptical...
• and to continue your thought further: and about Corporate Canada's good judgment!
• Westerner, I take your point. But I wasn't talking about blind loyalty - you have to leave the door open for issues of principle. Michael Chong is a perfect...
• Westerner, Please just agree to disagree. I remember when I was in Michael's shoes. Can't you tell by his anguish that he loves the CPC? Don't push him en...
• Who's Up For My Thinking Out Of The Box Challenge? Why is there an analogy between the 40 Billion dollar loss by La Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québe...
• Again, another solid point.
• Moving forward, I do what I can for the cause. Perhaps I'm on target, perhaps not. Time will tell won't it.
• Moving forward, I hadn't approached it from that angle. Interesting.
• Moving forward, The Conservatives are bound to be enthusiastic about this bill -- after all, their volunteer system produced yours truly. I'm sure they rema...
• Moving forward, Gutsy. However, I'm not sure I would play it that way. Nonetheless, it proves his leadership qualities.
• Not Another Numbskull... I've always enjoyed reading and listening to political operatives and pundits who are at the top of their game. That's why I don'...
• Canadian, I will agree that in the latter two cases, the matter will have to be handled with considerable finesse, if that is indeed the case that they ar...
• Canadian, That remains to be seen, doesn't it. But like I said, as Trudeau said: I won't go and hang myself from the rafters in the attic if it doesn't ha...
• MRM, Corporate Canada can still speak in this democracy. That is why CEOs are not shy about making individual donations, if they feel it is appropriate.
• MRM, Kindly enumerate the names of those from the list of 300 who are now working for the Harper government. I will consult my files and get back to yo...
• MRM, Why don't you tell us what he said about the Harper government. If you don't know, please go to Warren's site.
• MRM, You know whom to ask about Remillard. He wanted to run again for the CPC in the last election but was blocked by the PMO. Doesn't sound like being wa...
• Sorry Canadian, Since I'm not on the floor of the House I can't be as brave as those two fine examples of principled parliamentarians. (Must be the lawyer...
• Canadian, You are much too modest. You have such a canny insight into the CPC and the way our Prime Minister operates, I can't understand why they haven't...
• Canadian, So very true. It's a good thing the Prime Minister doesn't feel that way. God knows minority parliaments are especially grating on the nerves --...
• Westerner, Read Hansard and you'll find out soon enough.
• Nothing against you Westerner. Let's just say I have to be especially on my toes concerning this particular matter, to avoid possible litigation.
• Canadian, Well then shall we agree that you know how to maintain control of the board. Yes, I enjoyed it as well. Michael is coming along nicely.
• MRM, Sorry MRM, boy are you ever out in left field on this one. I'm sure Canadian knows what the corrolation is even if he has chosen to remain silent on ...
• MRM, That's for me to know and you to find out...eventually!
• Canadian, You're wrong, our fellow Canadians can always handle the stark political truth. The secret is knowing how to make it palatable. I would have tho...
• Westerner, I will lay it out tomorrow so everyone can jump on me.
• MRM, Let's wait for the next batch of numbers, shall we?
• Minority Prime Ministers. We have had minority prime ministers in Canada who have accomplished a greal deal. The first that comes to mind is Lester B. Pea...
• Moving forward, No question Pearson was a great man. Probably our most decent prime minister. But he lacked the royal leadership jelly and that's why Cana...
• Canadian, I wasn't Doug Finlay...I was so low on the volunteer totem poll so my experience doesn't count for a hill of beans, organization wise. As for...
• Canadian, We both know that the period of furious internal polling is on our door step. That will be followed by each party trying to tailor the issues to r...
• Westerner, You sure know how to keep a tight script!
• Westerner, That is a legitimate part of the story (your response to Moving forward). The other: trying to find justification under any heading and I mean an...
• Canadian, You admitted yourself that Michael was good when he appeared at the agriculture meeting. It seems to me that you answered your own question. As f...
• Here we go with an abbreviated version: This is about psychology in my view: Caisse managers had received excellent returns investing in Asset-Backed Commer...
• Westerner, I've posted it.
• Hi MRM, It's posted now.
• Westerner, Quite obviously, psychology is not something you think about.
• Western, Does this mean that Harper will STILL want to follow Obama who is canceling 30 billion dollars in tax breaks for the oil and gas companies? Oh is ...
• Canadian, The CPC has the war chest, the ground organization in English Canada but not the limited momentum of the Liberals. Wouldn't it be ironic if the Co...
• Canadian, It is posted. Will you be as dismissive as Westerner?
• Watching Peter Lougheed on Mansbridge One On One on Newsworld. It is really worth a watch. Lougheed has still got it. Catch it on internet, if you can.
• Sorry Canadian. Please see the comments section of Who's Up For My Thinking Out Of The Box Challenge?
• Westerner, Where does that put you on Harper's budget? a) pissed off like the blue tories; b) generally in agreement like the red tories; c) somewhere in...
• Westerner, I would have killed to know what he thinks about our two over-sized egos in their seemingly unending clash of the titans: Stephen versus Danny.
• But he did build a business and make a fortune...
• Hey Guys, How About A Heads Up! First the bouquet -- then the brick: I for one have been mightily impressed at the command that Peter MacKay has of his port...
• MRM, That sounds like sour grapes. Couldn't be coming from you.
• Moving ahead, Believe it or not the man is actually quite decent. But I imagine he and Rivard are still pissed off at me for bolting. On another matter: wi...
• Moving ahead, I was talking about MRM but Rivard is also decent. However, unlike myself, Rivard is a real party man.
• MRM, Please make sure your switch is on "POWER" - you sure know how to spread it thick! Didn't it ever occur to you that when the President is on home turf...
• Canadian, Delay is a dangerous word. How do you think the House and one third of the Senate will go in 2010 if it is obvious even to a mental midget that ob...
• Jack, As if this story isn't ridiculous enough, the Russians claim in fact to have given advance notice to the bordering countries. However they did not off...
• Canadian, MRM likes to belittle my role (he prefers "job") in my new party. If you know me by now you will attest to the fact that I always give as good as ...
• BC Voter, It strikes me as humanistic and probably much too utopian for this sorry planet of ours where people willingly choose to let dishonest and decepti...
• Canadian, Of course he isn't Obama. He isn't. Harper isn't Obama either. Who cares whom he called or didn't call. He isn't prime minister, period. He can't ...
• MRM, Why do I get the feeling you no longer enjoy this intellectual exercise? I never claimed to be an expert. Like you, I have some knowledge. Sometimes I...
• MRM, My, for you guys to take on a fart such a myself with such assiduity speaks volumes about your insecurity as a party and government. 1. I know as much...
• MRM, Perhaps some one forgot to tell you that commissioners are completely divorced from the political world to maintain their neutrality and impartiality. ...
• MRM, a) Sarcasm becomes you; b) Please note the date of my post. If a correction was put out subsequent to my post, I have nothing further to say other tha...
• Canadian, I understand your point but do you really think that this government can get any serious mileage out of this? You guys can push this line until th...
• Canadian, I agree the point about Artic sovereignty is the main point. My point, although also valid, in my view, is secondary to the story. I acknowledge t...
• I Apologize. I want to post an apology here to say that I deeply regret my recent statements about notice requests which Defence Minister Peter MacKay made ...
• MRM, And so it continues: the "farce" doesn't come from me - it comes from the politics section of the Globe and Mail website at the bottom where they cite ...
• MRM, No thanks. I prefer the Brooklyn Bridge! Doesn't the Prime Minister have enough problems without you opening up that hornet's nest. I prefer to steer ...
• MRM, Give me a ring when you hit 80 - the Bloc will still be waiting for their country in their comfortable chairs in Ottawa. They are nothing but the legit...
• MRM, That should read: last President (not PM). His name is Viktor Yanukovych. His colours are blue but that wouldn't really be your style! He is the Leader...
• BC Voter, You know how it always goes -- one failed system is either overthrown or replaced by another which is supposed to lead us to nirvana. Think about ...
• Canadian, MRM, Shouldn't you give us your view on Lougheed's remarks about the lack of regular federal-provincial-territorial conferences? He is bang on in ...
• CBSA And Truckers. Here we go again: the Canadian Press is reporting that nuclear, military and other sensitive materials are being exported to the U.S. wit...
• A Frustrated Prime Minister. So nice to see John Baird on Question Period. I missed him. Hell, I would like to see him out front for this government as much...
• BC Voter, Please take it easy on Larry. He is recovering from cancer.
• BC Voter, Haven't you heard what Michael has said about the West and its resources? I would call that moving in the right direction.
• I'm In Heaven! Can't believe the Conservatives are that dense...incroyable mais vrai, as one might say in French. The war room boys and girls have been give...
• Filling The Conservative "Vacuum". I'm confused. Isn't Stephen Harper the "Canadian" Barack Obama? At least that's how Conservatives tell the story. Up un...
• Canadian, We are both thankful that Canada is a vibrant democracy. You guys can run those ads any way you like. It's your call. I will let the Canadian...
• Slowly Slipping Away. Can't you feel it? Government MPs wound up tighter than a drum - shuffling off to their appointments with a pained look of agitation o...
• Canadian, The middle-of-the-road accommodating chess strategy will not work -- too many train wrecks have happened along the way -- largely due to the Prime...
• Tell me Canadian, I must have really been in the running after Dehors-Harper-Out in 2005. Not too clever spin on your part...take a vacation. Re-charge those...
• Canadian, You can't blame the global meltdown on Harper. That is stretching it beyond credibility. (Boy, are you ever expert at putting words in people's mo...
• Canadian, I'm talking underlying causes of the global meltdown. I'm not talking about the response of the government to the crisis or the opposition react...
• Canadian, Quite clearly, we will be pulled out only when the U.S. economy starts to recover. I won't speculate on when. I will leave that to the economist...
• MRM, I suggest you ask the war room for the tape. If not contact Radio-Canada directly. He made the mistake and you saying he didn't doesn't change the fa...
• MRM, He says without "" is not a direct quote. Baird said the PM was frustrated. His comments suggested that the PM was not serious about going to an elec...
• Canadian, You amuse me. You are clearly irritated now that the Globe and Mail is "fawning" over Michael - funny how you weren't "irritated" when the Globe...
• MRM, The interview with Lawrence Cannon conducted on Les coulisses du pouvoir where Lawrence called Obama and Harper "chefs de gouvernement" (heads of gov...
• MRM, Perhaps you are right in the strictest narrow sense...when Baird said the Prime Minister was frustrated and that that perhaps explained at least in p...
• Canadian, Thank you for your kind comment. I will have more to say as the polls roll out but I have to warn you -- I'm no genius strategist. Here is my tr...
• Canadian, My election bets: $115.00 ($100.00 and $15.00) made when Fortier announced he would run in Vaudreuil-Soulanges - that he would lose. (At leas...
• Sorry, that should read misfortunes.
• Hey Canadian, Care to portray Mr. Coyne as another desperate or deranged Liberal apologist! Go right ahead. I need a good laugh.
• JoanG, Canadian won't be replying to this post either. He is too busy biting through a case of nails!
• Stephen Harper Tries To Turn The Tables On Newfoundland And Labrador. I really admire Kory. He is a good little soldier. He knows how to efficiently distrib...
• Canadian, You can bring up my commission applications all you want but we know that that is a minor detail in the overall story. As you well know, it goes b...
• Canadian, Yes, I introduced the commissions. Yes, I've always had a personal bias against Harper - I never cared for the man. No, I don't feel sligh...
• Canadian, LOL. Sarcasm becomes you. I never knew you had this precious gift in you...much better than the PM who can only do John McCallum... (Personal...
• Canadian, I'll let you guys dig out my donation level. I'm guessing it won't take too long. I'm rather partial to green -- has something to do with my last...
• The Budget: Double-edged Sword For Liberals and Conservatives. Take this post with a very large grain of salt. Like most of you, I'm looking forward to the ...

New Nanos Poll: Measuring Political Coat-tails - Leader Impact on Local Party Candidates + Budget Performance (2009-02-13)

• In Search Of Something Other Than Space Between His Ears. No surprise to see the performances of late by Conservative MPs in the House of Commons. The Prime...
• Westerner, That was then, this is NOW!
• Canadian, Fantasy Island was your favourite television program, right? You must really miss Ricardo Mantalbàn.
• Quiet Liberal, Poor Harper. I'm all choked up to see him on the skids largely due to his own making. We reap what we sow -- Dion will have his revenge for ...
• Vancouver West Reform, I can't go any further. Regretfully, I have to be like him. Otherwise he will sue me for libel even though the facts are true. I also...
• Canadian, Well, if we get at least 2100, we will surpass the Conservatives in Winnipeg! As you know, though I was in Montreal in 2004, I politely declined w...
• Canadian, Get real. We both know it is now a policy convention. Platform issues will be the main order of the day and confirming Michael's leadership will b...
• Canadian, Remember diplomatic nuance is key: we aren't supporting the Prime Minister. We are "assuring political continuity and economic stability" in the m...
• So Much For Harper Being "Tight" With The U.S. Congress And President. I don't know about you but I'm not surprised to hear that our Prime Minister remains ...
• Why Don Martin Missed The Boat. Those of us who have had the experience of toiling in the Conservative Party of Canada know a little about the make up of ou...
• Westerner, I don't see the Act being amended in either house of Congress. I agree with you. It's over, for better or worse.
• Vancouver West Reform, I remember the wide grin that came across my face when they asked Sollicitor General Andy Scott (if memory serves on the title) on th...
• Westerner, He means APEC and the 1997 tear gassing of protesters, in Vancouver, when Chrétien was in office.
• Canadian, Some of you not only like pepper -- you act as if you had it up your [EDITED BY MODERATOR]!
• Canadian, MRM has class. That is why we extended to each other a mutual apology for both having gone overboard during the debate on the coalition. I'm sti...
• Canadian, Unlike you, I have better things to do than go back through endless mounds of your mindless drivel...you did everything possible to earn our con...
• Canadian, You don't even have the guts to admit what you did, much less apologize for it. That speaks volumes about you. Show some character and fess ...
• Canadian, You certainly act like Harper's pawn.
• Canadian, Why don't you DENY my allegations made without proof? Oh yeah, that's right -- because they happen to be true. How highly inconvenient for...
• Hello, I said deny not defend.
• Westerner, I'm a great admirer of the West. If you think you have a lot of action now, wait until we defeat Harper and watch the fireworks over the west. ...
• Westerner, Nope, we won't. The economic center of gravity is in Western Canada and the political center will get there a lot quicker than people think. ...
• Canadian, I was a lot more soft-hearted then even willing to give Harper the benefit of the doubt...
• Westerner, If that was true, Harper would have won in 2004 and surely gotten a majority in 2006.
• Hi MRM, Geez, you're supposed to be taking some time off. Florida is for sun and surf not serving as the clearing house for the PMO. Remember, you shou...
• A Message To Conservatives. During the coalition crisis, much talk was made of the fact that several Liberal MPs would be jumping ship to join the CPC. I ...
• Canadian, Let me help you out a little in life: a) please get some contact lenses or at least, a pair of glasses; and b) please re-read the polls...
• MRM, Funny, that is not the way I remember it: you asked me about Lawrence and I told you that I was not suggesting that he would cross the floor. I don't...
• MRM, If I heard correctly, the PM has decided to proceed with your new job. I want to keep it vague here but as you well know, a possible election is neit...
• MRM, We seem to be talking apples and oranges here. This quote while entirely accurate has nothing to do with possible CPC floor crossers. We won't go over ...
• MRM, It is apples and oranges. The first debate was over House of Commons floor crossers. It was predicted that two Liberal MPs would cross the floor in Feb...
• MRM, I might as well give you my personal theory: the CPC will not name a regional organizer in either Montreal or Quebec City. They have signaled that the ...
• MRM, Nope. It was a highly placed Conservative. Don't feel like digging it out though, here on Nik on the Numbers. Of course you don't because they told me...
• MRM, You mean Senator Rivard! What a surprise that he does not agree with me. I'm shocked. As for the Bloc, they will go with the polls -- if the trend...
• MRM, The ridings are Charlesbourg and Quebec. While you're at it, get Rivard to tell you what happened in Louis-Hébert when most of the riding executiv...
• MRM, This time you are wrong. This information about both Charlesbourg and Quebec does not come from the Senator. I make it my business to know what is goin...
• MRM, Any good political animal keeps up on things even when he's left the party. I continue to do my best to be up on current events. As for the LPC, m...
• MRM, Be patient.
• MRM, You must be a fellow Taurus (like the PM and yours truly)!

Nanos-Policy Options Poll - Canadians see recession lasting into 2010; Support deficits and Infrastructure spending (2009-01-25)

• Hollinm, With respect, when the Chrétien government moved to outlaw corporate and union contributions to political parties, it was moving to a system that h...
• Why Stephen Harper Is Budgetly-speaking A Red Tory! If you're like me, you're having a hell of a time enjoying yourself listening to reformers gripe about t...
• Peggy, He met with caucus tonight to discuss the party's position on the tax cuts. As you know, they are a lot broader than what the Liberals suggested. Sin...
• P.S. To be fair, the budget provides for the other levels of government to kick in fifty percent of the money rather than sixty-six percent as was originally...
• Made In Canada Only, You are at least half right: who was it that blocked bank mergers and the banks directly selling insurance? Martin did. What did the b...
• Canadian, On the contrary, you of all people should be pleased that the Liberals are willing to prop up the present government. Remember, Michael is simply ...
• Canadian, (Nice new cartoon.) Do you take us for idiots? Chrétien has not come out to denounce Michael's decision. And he won't either. Both men heard the C...
• Parnel2, Whomever writes their scripts deserves an F. Even with a lot of work and polish, they have a ways to go to earn a respectable D...
• Canadian, Wow, diminished in your credible eyes...excuse me, I have to run off to my bedroom so I can start bawling...
• ROFL. ROFL. ROFL. Now, THAT certainly enhanced your credibility. Why don't you find an avatar for the Keystone Kops!
• Michael C, All in due time Michael. Once Harper is defeated in an eventual election, it will then be a race between two honourable men: Ignatieff versus Pre...
• Made In Canada, Please don't tar all of the good people in the RCMP with the same brush. In the Dziekanski case, the crown has determined that no criminal c...
• CROP Poll: Support in Quebec: CPC: 16% LPC: 31% BQ: 34% NDP: 15% Is anyone surprised? Claude Durand will have her work cut out for her!
• A Few Interesting Quotes From Neil Waugh's piece in the Edmonton Sun: "We've just had a spending orgy by Alberta's "Conservative" Prime Minister Stephen Har...
• Made In Canada, You should be interested, even if regrettably, you don't like Quebecers. (I would never say that about westerners in general or British Colu...
• When The Rubber Hits The Road. February 19, 2009, a day when the Prime Minister will have to prove to the Canadian people that his new best friend, Presiden...
• Strategic Counsel/Globe and Mail/CTV Poll: A few choice morsels: "... 72 per cent of Canadians say the government would not have introduced the stimulative...
• Harper Takes Quebecers For Dummies. In a television interview broadcast on the TVA television network in Quebec on Friday, the Prime Minister had this to sa...
• Parnel3, I don't know about the rest of Canada but I expect that Maxime Bernier in Beauce is safe. All the other CPC MPs will lose their seats in the next e...
• Parnel3, If Harper leaves of his own accord, I for one will be shocked. I expect him to stay and fight. I could be wrong but I don't see the CPC pushing him...
• Westerner, My "we" means we Liberals.
• Come on Westerner. We both know that online surveys are far less reliable than officially commissioned polls. My sense of it is that Harper remains ahead bu...
• Yes, that's right. Liberals are lucky to have Kinsella back in the fold. I don't see Ms. Wong's outrage as representative of the Chinese community at large. ...
• Stop Making Me Ashamed To Be A Canadian. Just when we thought we had seen it all on Parliament Hill, when we were under the impression that nothing could po...
• Westerner, Danny is a PROGRESSIVE Conservative. Good on him!
• The Budget Vote - Much Ado About Nothing. I have respect for opposing opinions but all this hubbub about how the Liberals voted on the budget is simply lu...
• Canadian, I was aware of both cases but your point is well taken. I deliberately decided not to include them nor did I mention the expulsion of Larry Spence...
• Novadog, How much did the other party leaders donate to their parties? I'll bet no one donated $1000.00 or $1100.00...
• Canadian, What is fiscally prudent is usually quickly divorced from what is politically responsible or expedient! Rank amateurs tend not to be able to see t...
• Westerner, Nothing like expecting lightning to strike twice in the same place. Theoretically possible but extremely unlikely in practice.
• Sparnel07, Don't blame the PM -- he's a little off his best game these days. Apparently it happened when Harper showed up to "renovate" that million dollar ...
• Poor Canadian. You just don't get it...that was then, this is now. October's election results is yesterday's news as Stephen Harper will soon discover.
• Blogging The Conservative Way! I think we owe Warren Kinsella a debt of gratitude for exposing on his blog the fact that several of the more "enthusiastic a...
• Canadian, Let's KISS (keep it simple stupid) - in the next election in the province of Quebec (in terms of seat total): Liberals + Bloc = Cons...
• Sparnel07, Funny how Canadian hasn't found the time YET to issue a blanket denial...we both know that he doesn't get a dime from the party for the truly i...
• Vancouver West Reform, As a former CPC member, you know which Conservative I like the least...
• Canadian, David surely has no problem with it because he and Dalton are politically sophisticated -- the provincial and federal parties have a good workin...
• We'll both see, eventually.
• Vancouver West Reform, We couldn't possibly do that...otherwise poor Harper will have nowhere to plunk down our distinguished former Reform, Alliance and ...
• Breaking Out Harper's Ear Trumpet. Doctor, Doctor, the Prime Minister is once again suffering from a tin ear -- with news that Canada lost 129,000 jobs in J...
• Wrong. Quebec votes for the Bloc because it considers, rightly or wrongly, that party as its guard dog in Ottawa. Duceppe gets much more mileage out of sayi...
• Canadian, Write this one down so you can parrot it back to me on election night - Newfoundland and Labrador: Liberals 7 (+1); NDP ZERO (-1) Sorry, Jack a...
• Canadian, Why don't you get your face out of the rear view mirror. I know it's a difficult habit to break but looking forward does help when making predicti...
• Stephen Harper will do what he always does. Somewhere, somehow, overplay his hand in a manner that will fill Canadians with distrust. Let Harper be Harper. ...
• Where is the violin music? Not to mention the choir singing Alleluia...
• Sparnel09, No surprise there. I've been saying to friends for months that he would settle. (After all, Harper couldn't even get along with his own lawyer......
• Canadian, Perhaps we should all head over to the PMO and take purity and piety lessons from Pope Harper, that is unless Harper is too busy chopping down che...
• Got you! You guys must be scared positively shitless if the new playbook (or is it hymnbook?) rushed into your over willing hands from the PMO is a pre-coor...
• An Open Letter To "Canadian": I must say that as usual, you are hard at work twisting those pretzels. You do indeed have a natural talent for it...you must ...
• Macho man, Wow. Silence appears to be golden after all...it must also really be true that Stephen is actually a quiet, unassuming fellow.
• Remember Parnel, slow and steady wins the race. That's us. They're a mixture of plodding, plotting and desperate, three of the CPC's main characteristics.
• Another fine example of Harper being too cute by half, allegedly sending F and S into the breach and now pulling the rug right out from under them. I guess ...
• Gold medal win in olympic skating. Congratulations!
• Oh by the way, why didn't you tell us you had a twin? It must have been the other guy who called me a traitor on numerous occasions during the coalition fir...
• Of course they are in campaign mode. Knowing Harper, he will try and find a window to pull the plug before the point of maximum maximization of momentum for ...
• Westerner, How about a Yes or a No...did he not on several occasions call me a traitor? We both know what the answer is. I'm waiting.
• Westerner, Please explain exactly how I have offended any specific religious group and kindly name which group is likely or has taken offense to my comments...
• What the hell are you talking about? I asked a simple question. Nothing more. Are you blogging without getting payment from either the CPC or the Harper gov...
• Canadian, I said they. You know, the party I used to be a member of - the CPC.
• I'm talking cash. Look, you have every right to be paid for your blogging (IF that is the case) but in the interest of fairness to readers, it should be disc...
• Westerner, Fair enough.
• I mean Harper is no idiot and will try to pull the plug on his own government on terms that are more favourable to him and his re-election rather than wait f...
• Thank you. I respect that and will now drop it.
• Oops. I'm obviously not as sharp as I think I am. Sorry. And no, I'm not paid by any party or organization. I stir shit for free.
• I take your point that it offends you personally. Therefore I apologize to you and will refrain from this type of comment in the future. In case you haven't...
• Canadian, I will start to sound boring but as I've said before, the more you see of Harper, the more he behaves in an extreme political fashion, the more it...
• Westerner, Unfortunately, as a sinner, I seldom live up to them completely. Being enthusiastic about politics makes for traveling in a world that does not t...
• I fully intend to amuse you further on election night.
• Canadian, We've raised over $700,000 since Michael became interim leader and the cash continues to roll in. Oh by the way, I have contributed myself and t...
• Canadian, I know a blurb passed on RDI in Quebec this past week at 12:30 P.M. I will try and find a link for you.
• Canadian, Thank you. I found a link at Le Devoir and will get back to you ASAP with it.
• Here it is: L'effet Ignatieff se fait sentir. By: Hélène Buzzetti http://www.ledevoir.com/2009/02/04/231464.html
• Canadian, Have you ever thought about teaching extremely creative writing and wishful thinking? Again, we Liberals will do everything we can to wipe that s...
• Quiet Liberal, I'm really looking forward to fall and all those red leaves in the trees. I love autumn. Nothing like exercising your democratic franchise af...
• Nice try. Quiet Liberal has his view. I have mine and I know how to express my view. I will let Quiet Liberal speak for himself.
• Look at all the premiers and mayors "jumping for joy" remembering how the infrastructure pipes "clogged up" last year with only 20 per cent of the money allo...
• Quiet Liberal, They are showing a little humanity for a change and it is quite refreshing. I have nothing to say against those CPC ministers and members who...
• Nanos Poll Out Tonight! Out of respect for Nik and his fine work I won't spill the beans. Nik was on CPAC tonight. I will let him tell you about it. Look f...
• Calmecam, No one in Canada can be happier than me about the Conservatives' political predicament. I said from Day One when I first glimpsed Harper in action...
• Westerner, I prefer to turn the other cheek.

Nanos Poll - Ignatieff still unknown, Harper too well known (2009-01-18)

• Gretag, I agree. I would also suggest that Ignatieff has to define himself before Harper does it for him. It worked against Dion but it can't do as much dam...
• Harper...too well known! Talk about an understatement...we have a PM who goes out of his way to politically screw himself. He can't help it -- the devil mad...
• Tom, Exceedingly well put.
• Gerry l, Agreed that advantage Harper ain't what it used to be!
• Bernie, You're a perfect example of the everyday decent Canadian: a fair-minded person who's willing to take a long hard look at the new guy on the block. M...
• Michael C, If there's anyone who knows where you're coming from it's yours truly: will try not to bore you too much and give you the short version: a) Harp...
• Michael C, Give up on reasoning with Informed1. It isn't worth the effort. Stephen has nothing but unquestioned loyalty for Stephen. He should really get so...
• Parnel2, Canadians are increasingly choosing to put aside their emotional reaction to the possibility of the coalition and letting their common sense and go...
• Doc, It must be nice to be able to walk around the PMO knowing that only you, Stephen Harper, command the power of absolute moral certainty and political in...
• Stormy Seas For HMCS CPC. I love trial balloons but nothing wears it like Lawrence Martin's column last Thursday in The Globe and Mail suggesting that a dra...

New Nanos National Poll - Lib 34, CP 33, NDP 19, BQ 7, GP 7 (completed Jan 7) (2009-01-09)

• gerryl, As a resident of Quebec, I find myself thinking that we have to separate the situation on the ground today from the situation on the ground at the t...
• Peter3, The Liberals are almost completely unanimous on one issue -- they want power and they are prepared to swallow hard internally to get it back. Michae...
• Tom Good, No question that Harper can stay in office and mark time. His present position proves once and for all how the PM is nothing more than a so-so str...
• Bernie, I wonder, tactically speaking, what is the best scenario for Jack and the New Democrats: if we go to an election, is it better for them to go: a) n...
• Hawker, I sincerely hope so. We all have our own vision of the Canada that we want to live in. Though the PM's vision for Canada was not my own, I stuck it ...
• Peter3, Your perception sword has perhaps a much finer edge on it than mine. Congratulations! I've no doubt that you will be one of the first to spot the ne...
• MRM, Respectfully, we both know that Bob Rae will do no such thing. Rae is sterling silver class personified. He demonstrated that when he endorsed Ignatief...
• Non-aligned in Toronto, I could be wrong but it seems to me that that point is now moot. Events have propelled us beyond the coalition. It was a moment in t...
• Tom Good, I agree but if BS really could climb mountains to such an extent, Harper would have got his majority in the last vote. Thank God for upper limits ...
• MRM, Nothing quite breeds caucus solidarity like a pending cabinet appointment. God knows you are well aware how Harper's cabinet is loathe to make waves ev...
• Tom, I may not know much but you can take the following to the bank: remember how I was hand-in-hand with Carol Jamieson. The CPC was out of power and Harpe...
• Watch Lawrence Cannon. In the coming days and weeks, keep an eye on Lawrence Cannon. Not because he's foreign affairs minister but because he has a solid bu...
• Syl, The progressive side of the equation has no power base -- worse yet, no champion. No one in cabinet is able or willing to go to bat for that side of th...
• MRM, I prefer the terms nuance, context and perspective.
• President Obama Will Be Coming To Town. I for one am extremely happy to hear that the President-elect of the United States will be coming to Ottawa shortly ...
• MRM, I'm saying that a lot of personal goodwill exists between Cannon and certain senior Liberals. Both sides will be predisposed to work together for diffe...
• MRM, Even a Red Tory such as myself supported the war in Iraq. Saddam Hussein had to be removed for the sake of his own people. Period. However, I also agre...
• MRM, I would put Lawrence in a special category. Ask him next time you see him.
• MRM, Touché.
• MRM, No I'm not suggesting that.
• MRM, In spite of all our sins, you said it yourself recently -- politics does indeed make strange bedfellows. Do you honestly believe that the U.S. Congress...
• Informed1, If you are going to talk about Rivard, how about getting it right...he was never a Bloc supporter. He was a PQ MNA having been asked by Premier J...
• Toronto Star/Angus Reid Poll: CPC: 39 LPC: 30 NDP: 17 BQ: 9 GP: 5 In Ontario, the CPC is two points ahead of the Liberals at 42, with the NDP at 12 and...
• Larry, Thinking of you during this difficult time. Wishing you all the best and as quick a recovery as is possible.
• MRM, What do you think of ole Doug letting go of the reins in Quebec. Personally, I've never heard of the lady who is the new Quebec political operations di...
• Larry, I agree but we must not forget the big picture: those of us who support a mainstream, moderate, Canada need a government that reflects our view of th...
• Informed1, Does this mean that the PM was wrong not to let Bill Casey back into the fold prior to the last election? He had done his time on the benches as ...
• Made In Canada Only, We do have anti-dumping provisions and they are enforced once a case has been proved. But remember that under GATT, tariffs are droppin...
• MRM, The Conservatives in Quebec City are all eagerly awaiting the nomination of the new regional organizer. Some fear the worst -- others believe that up t...
• Parnel2, You could be right. Does that mean that you agree with me that Michael Ignatieff will be showing us how patience is indeed a virtue? I don't want t...
• MRM, I take your points. They are all valid to varying extents. However, we have to go with the people who have the political power to punch beyond their we...
• MRM, There aren't any pillars of virtue in politics -- it's a contradiction in terms to the definition of a politician. Ignatieff and Rae were once the best...
• MRM, The PM does not do magnanimous. In his mind, it's a sign of weakness. Again, a question of political temperament and judgment....
• MRM, And another thing. Boy do you ever have guts. My respects.
• MRM, I have many friends in the CPC. That is why I told them prior to the last election that I would be leaving the party to join the Liberals. These people...
• Calmecam, Excellent post. I've bored everyone in the past with my argument that Harper's numbers are on a down slope. But I don't want a campaign on minorit...
• Will Afghanistan Be Harper's Waterloo? The Harper government has been gleefully predicting that it will be doing business with the incoming Obama Administra...

Harper has "poisoned the well" in parliament - path forward is uncertain (2008-12-01)

• Hi Nik, Because I don't want to overly poison the well, I will be making only sporadic comments from this point on. As you may have noticed, I've been kee...
• Hollinm, There comes a time in everyone's life when a person has to stand up and be counted. This is not my first time at bat. Respectfully, is Harper's g...
• Gohabs1, Thanks very much!
• Kutkw'unuukws, Tom Good, Thank you.
• MRM, I have many friends in the CPC. I'll put in a good word for you. Harper could certainly benefit from your advice.
• Lex Llewdor, I can tell you right now that that will never happen. Harper will never resign and the CPC will not push him out. He is there for the duratio...
• I also agree that Harper has an edge in an election.
• Bernie, Nice to hear from you. I was waiting. Wish I could head off to California for a drink with Eva...much better than putting up with all this B.S....
• If I was a betting man, I would have a hundred on your argument.
• Chris30, Appointing Elizabeth May to the Senate is political suicide in my opinion. If the coalition gets there -- and that is a big IF, better to run her...
• Congratulations, again right on the money.
• Informed1, Because they have brains; Because they know the meaning of reasoned, well-thought out responses to problem solving and political priorities;...
• Agreed. Quite literally can't stand the sight of Harper but even I have to defend him on this one. Entirely inappropriate.
• Lex Llewdor, When the Liberals, the NDP, the Bloc and the Greens all have the same 15 million dollar war chest as the Conservatives, you can count on me t...
• Informed1, Brilliant short-term tactical moves are for generals of a lesser calibre. Much more politically sophisticated work is required to take Harpe...
• Informed1, You know, the regional organizer once asked me to pick up the then leader of the opposition and Laureen at the airport. I felt that discretion ...
• Informed1, I'm afraid that I don't qualify, having previously supported and worked for the CPC since 2004! They might question my mental state. (And it w...
• God Bless the "SEPARATIST COALITION"! And may they, with God's infinite wisdom, succeed in separating this country from the government of Stephen Harper, ...
• Informed1, She can kick my butt anytime but not until she kicks HIS first! God knows he is overdue for it. We certainly can't count on others to do it ...
• Take care man. Harper's people might be taping your E-mail.
• Playing The Bloc Card - Round Two. We can all recall what happened when the Conservatives played the Bloc card last time. Who can forget the sight of Jacq...
• Attention: Conservative Parliamentary Caucus! Good news! We finally know now what the caucus can get the Prime Minister for Christmas. I know how members ...
• MRM, Yes, the three parties are all the same -- fundamentally decent. Your side of the House should try it sometime. But then again, change (especially...
• MRM, Don't worry. There is effective treatment for paranoid mania and delusional thoughts. Good luck. I'm pulling for you.
• Democracywave, I hear that one of the parties in Parliament has petitioned Elections Canada to change its name. From this point on, they want to be known ...
• MRM, You're right. However, that doesn't jive with the fact that Conservative cabinet ministers are eager to find out where I get my information on the CP...
• MRM, I'm talking about Conservative inside baseball information which I have not made public but which is circulating in the CPC. Please check with your Q...
• MRM, Sorry wrong guess.
• MRM, Do you know the difference between Conservative talking points and opposition parties' talking points? I figure you don't. So please, let me help ...
• Informed1, Let's not play games. We both know Harper will be on television on Friday and will prorogue on Saturday.
• Informed1, We are going to the polls...in February! That is as obvious as being hit in the face by a Harper bus.
• Informed1, We'll see. It will depend whether Goldy is having an off-day or not!
• MRM, As you know, the PM has decreed that the above mentioned conditions are a necessary prerequisite for membership in the Conservative Party of Canada. ...
• MRM, Timing is everything in politics as the CPC is about to discover. Have a good day!
• MRM, Yes, I'm hoping to use the coalition as an air freshener on Parliament Hill. The stench coming from all those deliberate falsehoods emanating from th...
• Informed1, How memory can be selective at times...let me quote you some Harper-speak: it is THIS Prime Minister, who is leader of THIS government who ado...
• Informed1, Like Jean Charest, I choose Quebec and Canada. They are not mutually exclusive. Stephen Harper believes that -- or at least, he claims to belie...
• Informed1, Yes, I agree that the CPC does have quite extensive previous experience with floor crossers. Old habit are indeed hard to break -- aren't they?
• Informed1, Thanks for calling Jean Charest and myself a traitor. Not very credible. Have a chat with Goldy -- he can give you a much better playbook. T...
• Informed1, Next you'll be calling Stockwell Day a traitor for his deal with the Bloc in 2000. Get serious, or take a vacation.
• Canadian Alliance and Bloc Quebecois -- former partners -- allies against all that was evil on Parliament Hill in 2000. I guess it's a case of do what I s...
• Informed1, There is a Bloc mole operating in the Quebec City region. He is now on his third riding having destoyed two previous riding executives. I tried...
• MRM, I'll bet the PM must be so relieved. He hands probably haven't TREMBLED this much since the Afghanistan vote. Pretty sad, being scared of your ow...
• OPEN TENDER. We are a federal political party with headquarters in Ottawa. We are seeking submissions from clinicians who specialize in the treatment of P...
• Lex Llewdor, Politics isn't playing checkers, is it...
• Lex, Stockwell claims he was not personally involved nor was he aware of the arrangement. For now, I take him at his word.
• MRM, Must be nice being hopelessly adrift on Cloud Conservative. Give your next leader, Jim Prentice my best. Met him once, a nice guy. He will make a...
• MRM, Now that I have your backing, I KNOW I made the right choice!
• Titans, They haven't quite got to the stage of being a national embarassment but they are working on it. Don't worry, I have complete confidence that t...
• Informed1, Keep at it. At this rate, you should hit the magic number by 2011!
• Informed1, I don't see three votes for you here. Perhaps you are still measuring in Imperial! God Save The Queen.
• Stephan Parachuk, Alas you are a far better man than most of us posters. We do tend to get carried away.
• Informed1, Ask the PM to spell the word: A-P-O-L-O-G-I-Z-E and he immediately and instinctively draws a blank. Enough said.
• Pressman, Somehow neither of the following sound quite right: Barry Harper or Stephen Goldwater. As for taking down names, they have mine on their l...
• Informed1, Why don't you ask that Bloc plant in Quebec City. You know the one -- who has been deliberately and consistently undermining THIS GOVERNMENT si...
• Bernie, I would appreciate your input. When the House comes back on January 26th, MPs are likely to gather to hear a Throne Speech. Under ordinary politic...
• Informed1, Thanks for confirming my suspicions. Goldy sure has the war room staffed tonight. Well played!
• Informed1, It's not fair bringing back such fond memories of watching the guy sweat.
• Orville, We both know that internal Conservative party numbers are remarkably similar to these two polls. If the PM is so far ahead, why was he scared to ...
• Informed1, Please tell Goldy to get some sleep. We want him sharp as a tack to direct the war room tomorrow morning.
• Larryl, As a lawyer I suggest that you be very careful what you say regarding Airbus.
• Larry, Please don't give them the club. I was briefed by Conservative organizers on Airbus. You will note that I will not touch it with a ten-foot pole. Y...
• Larry, Only a member of the Quebec bar. Also not one of my areas of expertise.
• HC in AB, Did you hear the PM yesterday? He could not explain why it took so long to get his precious prorogation. As he said, constitutional convention p...
• Larry, I know how they think. I was in the fold for four years. Take the following as gospel: the PM has no intention of resigning. He will leave office i...
• Informed1, You sure are as puffed up as the Christmas turkey. I agree that it looks good for the CPC in the polls. I wonder why the PM didn't pull the ele...
• Novadog, Stephen Harper: "...Canada's greatest strategic politician." Quick Novadog -- call the Guinness Book of World Records people (or Ripley's Beli...
• Informed1, Please tell Goldy that he is slipping...I know that the best defence is a good offense but this is quite pathetic. Who are you to judge whet...
• Novadog, No personal offence was intended toward you. If any was taken, I apologize.
• MRM, Perhaps, it might have come off as somewhat of a bad production but at least Canadians did not have to endure it for very long. After all, they have ...
• MRM, You really are a pale reflection of the Prime Minister. That's you're trouble, you people. Can't think beyond the short term. Sorry to see it. Watch ...
• MRM, I have no objections if you were to help that process along. I'm sure you could find a legion within the CPC willing to eagerly assist! I happen to k...
• MRM, My dear wise person, can you say McGuinty and Charest machines. Choke on that, why don't you. (Wink, wink, wink!).
• MRM, I will tell party leaders to bring you over. Surely only your genius can save us now. (wink, wink, wink, nudge, nudge, nudge, ha, ha, ha!)
• Lukeflick, Canadians can expect nothing more from the Petty Low Road Party of Canada. That is their trademark. What they did to Dion, even before the elec...
• CONSERVATIVE WAR ROOM SPEAKS FOR HARPER GOVERNMENT. Political operatives in the Conservative Party war room are predicting that Canada's opposition partie...
• Informed1, How are the manipulative mania rallies going? I hope you have plenty of coffee and hot chocolate. Will the Dear Leader be inspiring the multitu...
• Must be all that Conservative in me.
• Come on Informed1. Let's get real here. Do you guys in the war room (Goldy, Tim, Bill, Ryan et al. - Is Geoff with you? My hat goes off to that guy, but I di...
• Informed1, Some socialist: paid $150.00 on two separate occasions to attend CPC regional cocktails where Lawrence Cannon and Josée Verner were present. H...
• Informed1, We all know you haven't got a hateful bone in your body. You prove it every day!
• gohabs1, We saw it with Dion. Under the party constitution, he could not be removed without his consent. I'm told the man has been persuaded to see reason...
• Upsidedown, IF this is accurate, could we be seeing the birth of a new David Emerson?
• Upsidedown, I'm afraid answers aren't his strong suit. He prefers bluster and pomposity!
• Informed1, You might want to look for a new "act" -- the elf of Christmas cheer does not become you.
• Upsidedown, That survey seems a tad lopsided. If Duplessis wasn't long dead and buried, I'd swear he was in charge of conducting this "poll"... My vote...
• MRM, Bad, bad strategist. Can't you remember the Central Command Directives: the CPC is morally and politically infallible, just like Pope Harper. No d...
• Informed1, I thought empathy and pity were not permitted for Conservative operatives without prior PMO authorization. I guess you've just proved me wrong.
• Upsidedown, Please be careful. You don't want to end up on their enemies list along with me.
• MRM, Hasn't the war room got better things to do than focusing like a laser beam on a nobody from the Conservative party who is now supporting the Liberal...
• MRM, You missed your calling. You should be writing for a comedy show. You're a riot! A perfect representation of the group-think in the Petty Low Road...
• A Special Holiday Message for Informed1 and MRM. Guys, I want you to know that I will be especially careful while out in the snow this winter. Moreover...
• HC in AB, Didn't you get the memo? People who vote for the Bloc in Quebec are "less Canadian" than the others. Looks like westerners have company.
• Wayne, Respectfully, with a reasonable attitude like that, I'm afraid you haven't got a chance of visiting the Conservative War Room should you find yours...
• Nik, I've discovered a novel way to do a bit of indirect polling while commenting on posts: I would suggest two options - "Join this conversation." for t...
• Oddie, The tide is turning. I don't know whether you are like me and come from a proud tradition. I'm not talking governments here, I'm talking parties. P...
• Informed1, You can spend the next six months if you want hitting your head on the wall but in the final analysis, it will mean that all you are doing is h...
• MRM, Words are not required to clearly demonstrate what you are. (Wink, wink.)
• Made In Canada Only, I sense you could use a nice little trip to Ottawa. You'd like it there. The CPC has this nice big room filled with the latest marvel...
• You Conservative Law and Order Types really make my day! It may interest some of you to know that the Parliament of Canada recently adopted amendments to ...
• Informed1, You should get some rest. You sound like a guy suffering from an imagined persecution complex. I hear that disorder is somewhat pervasive in CP...
• MRM, Miss you guys so much already, it hurts. Oh the agonizing pain of CPC disassociation. I can't bear it any further. I don't want to live.
• Informed1, Try finding some contact lenses or a pair of glasses and read my lead again. Perhaps you will get the jist of it, the second time around, if...
• MRM, Please make up your mind. Either I will never get in on the "inside" OR I "will be a highly regarded strategist". Can't be both! Which is it? (The CP...
• Informed1, Precious retort! Got to go out and live life today. Look forward to mixing it up with you two guys further down the road. Keep the faith. I'...
• MRM, That sounded sincere. Best wishes to you and yours during the holiday season. See you in the next round. I'm off to live life today.
• MRM, "...substance challenged responses", now that's a good one. You are starting to get in the zone but you know you can count on me to make sure you don...
• MRM, Old comments on both sides so detract from the "New Normal". Entente cordiale from this point on? If you're up for it.
• MRM, I hope Jason Kenney doesn't read this piece of advice. I assume he is still cordial with Ralph.
• MRM, Jason's cabinet post suggests otherwise. Don't bet the farm on your view of my political future. You may be right, you may be wrong. If I go nowhere,...
• Lex Llewdor, Harper drew a line in the sand -- and then crossed it. When he crossed his, I crossed mine. They won't miss me. I certainly won't miss ...
• Lex, I initially thought Manley might be willing to entertain jumping ship to the CPC. After further examination of events, I've since ruled that out. I s...
• Larry, Thanks for the compliments but I'm no better than the next guy. Think of it for a moment -- me in Alberta, I can think of some people who would lik...
• MRM, You know that I'm somewhat brave. If you can get me an invitation from Rona to visit Edmonton, I'm willing to take my chances visiting Alberta. Don't...
• MRM, I have complete faith in your abilities. I knew there was a downside.
• Informed1, Please take a vacation. You're stuck in a loop.
• Bud the spud, Point taken. I was painting with a rather large brush at the time. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail on both sides in the future.
• This is a great day for all Liberal members and supporters. The political sands have begun to shift under the Prime Minister's feet. A momentous day for Cana...
• Informed1, You strike me as the type of guy who would try to spin the smell of shit going down the bowl as perfuming the bathroom. Enough said.
• Informed1, I'm sure you'll be all sweetness and light as the polls start to shift in our favour. It is only a matter of time and we both know it!
• Novadog, I agree that it would be inappropriate for Elizabeth May to be in the Senate. As a party leader, it would not be credible. I admire her very much...
• Informed1, Have you ever thought about going into the pretzel business? Trust me, you're a natural. Twisting motives and words is certainly your specialty!
• Informed1, Let me spell it out for you so it will finally be clear. Never supported Harper's leadership - it was toleration on my part. (Couldn't stand hi...
• Lex Llewdor, What I'm referring to is the "provincial" federal party organization. The CPC has been without a provincial organizer in Quebec since the sud...
• I agree.
• Informed1, It is not calling them "separatists" that is the problem. It is calling them separatists after being propped up by them in the past. That is wh...
• Informed1, I will agree with you to the extent that if most Canadians do not want the public subsidy, it should be a central issue in the next election ca...
• Lex, I don't think that Paradis, Cannon, Verner, Blackburn, Lebel and the others would agree that it is a waste of money. If Harper writes off Quebec, mos...
• Peter3, Fine analysis. You won't get any argument from me.
• Lex Llewdor, Sorry, never was a Reformer though one of my best friends is from the Alliance. Prior to 2003, voted Progressive Conservative or Liberal....
• Informed1, They call us Red Tories. This one just so happens to back a Red Team now.
• Lex, We don't know what talents brainiacs have until they take office. The PM has a talent for three steps forward and one big blunder backwards. It goes ...
• Informed1, As you know, I believe in the principle of hard work in politics. Last election, I went to work for Verner each day after leaving the job. Also...
• Made In Canada Only, The coalition is dead for practical political purposes. The voters have spoken via the polls. Ignatieff will find some way to prop up...
• Informed1, Everyone has heard the message coming from the various polls. There will be no defeat of the government, in the House of Commons in January, IM...
• Lex, You're falling into the trap of painting with broad brush strokes. That is Harper's weakness and it is being parroted by much of the CPC membership -...
• Lex, Ignatieff will sit well with center and center-right Canadians. His possible trouble will come from left-wing voters. I think we can both agree on th...
• Nik, Can't wait for the next Nanos poll. I'm willing to bet that it is likely to be a confirming poll of this new trend: ANGUS REID (Toronto Star) C...
• Made In Canada Only, I know that you guys are talking about the Ipsos-Reid poll. What I'm suggesting is that the Angus Reid poll is perhaps the start of a...
• Not quite Lex. I voted against the merger because I believed that numbers count -- the Alliance had far greater membership numbers and as such, would control...
• Lex, I take your point. It strikes me as logical. But you know what the fly in the ointment is -- the CPC numbers, the twenty point lead, is as the old sa...
• Made In Canada Only, I am a Red Tory. But you have it right -- was a member of both the Progressive Conservatives and the Conservatives but am now support...
• MRM, Sorry but you have it wrong -- O'Dowd was a member of the CPC from 2004 to 2008. He was also a member of the Quebec Liberals at the same time, the QL...
• MRM, If it ain't about me, why do you keep bringing up my political affiliations? No one seems to give a damn about my political allegiances except you an...
• MRM, Thank you, but please don't waste your time. Rona has slightly less interest in seeing me than the PM has! However, if they should change their m...
• MRM, You know, I'll bet Stephen feels the same way you do. He is quite literally dying to get my input on the blue toilet paper soon to be installed in La...
• A Special Holiday Story for MRM! Last January, I attended my last speech by the PM in Quebec City. When the speech was over, there was a session of meet a...
• MRM, For the record, the PM sat next to me at the Le Biftheque restaurant when he was running for the leadership of the CPC. We had a brief but memorable ...
• Lex Llewdor, "...and Turner could have said no." Does this mean that you believe that the PM should just say no to his pending block of Senate appointm...
• Informed1, And I thought that the Dear Leader was the most sanctimonious person I ever met. Thanks for opening my eyes -- now I know that I was wrong in m...
• Lex, You really shouldn't talk about Harper's cabinet that way...
• Made In Canada, I had no idea that Reform was so obsessed with pussy.
• Informed1, I guess this means the pilot light has finally been lit over in the PMO...talk about minor miracles during the Christmas season. Small minds do...
• Gohabs1, Let the PM have his council of economic advisors. It's a nice make-work program. I've decided to save us all some time and have written the scrip...
• Informed1, He can move in with "flip-flop" Stephen and his family. Remember that guy? He said he would not be moving out of 24 Sussex and now surprise, su...
• Thank You Santa Harper! I want to thank the Prime Minister for the nicest Christmas present I have ever received. You did me a big favour when you chose t...
• MRM, Are you terribly behind in your replies or are you politically desperate? Please let me know!
• Informed1, The man doth protest too much, methinks. Come on, take a valium and the emotion crisis will soon pass. Trust me.
• MRM, Please tell Santa Harper that we are also anxious for an election but not that anxious. We will not pull the plug, at least until the spring and perh...
• MRM, I'll go if he'll go but I'll wager that the doc will spend more time on his temperament than on mine!
• MRM, Try being intellectually honest. It would be a welcome change. I never said that westerners were stupid. Far from it, they are smart enough to contro...
• MRM, Only you would consider Michel Rivard as "name-dropping". If I'm that important, you guys in the CPC must be totally lost without me!
• MRM, At least I'm young in spirit. You appear to be very, very, young intellectually speaking, and yet tired as an old rag.
• Respectfully, come on Lex. You've been in politics long enough to know that Harper's numbers are based on a specific pique of emotion -- without the coalitio...
• MRM, Nope. Said the spring, at the earliest. What I also said was that Team Harper is scared of going to the polls -- even with a twenty point lead in mos...
• Informed1, You amuse me. I'm for representation by population -- not for a) rep. by pop. when it is politically advantageous (the current CPC position) vs...
• Informed1, Please check your facts. We attempted to remove Harper in 2005 when he was Opposition Leader. Once the CPC came to power, we lined up like all ...
• Informed1, Perhaps you need a memory refresher. Do you remember how Luc behaved in the last campaign? Funny that YOU missed it -- it was all over the pape...
• Lex, Perhaps. But the Liberals have the big ace in the hole -- STEPHEN HARPER --the guy who can't quite resist his own sense of innate self-destruction. E...
• MRM, You sure aren't playing your best game right now. I thought character assassination wasn't your thing...anyway, I never claimed to have met Rona (my ...
• MRM, Wake up and smell the coffee. Have you ever met ANYONE involved in politics who didn't have an oversized ego, yourself included??? My ego is as la...
• MRM, Please tell Rivard not to bring the PM to my funeral!
• Informed1, Do you need glasses? Can't read properly? I've already SAID that we tried to remove Harper as opposition leader in 2005. We failed. End of stor...
• By the way, Jamieson did an excellent job. By the time she finished, the site had over 300 names on it.
• How ethical. How would you like me to put some of your private correspondence on the net for all to read. Says a lot about the people around Harper that a pr...
• Informed1, Harper proved he is a pretend centrist when he attempted to cut the political financing for the other political parties. Even someone who is so...
• MRM, Cut and paste is not your style!
• MRM, Aren't you clever! With you on board, don't worry, that CPC majority is within reach! Oh by the way, anytime you have the guts to post under your ...
• MRM, What's next? Planning to run Danny Williams' letters next to mine?
• If it did, I may be down but I'm certainly not out -- and I will be pleased to demonstrate it for you!
• What's your name again? Don't worry, I'll call the PMO and ask for their permission so you can finally reveal what brilliant mind lurks behind such an imp...
• MRM, You guys certainly are an impressive tag team. The anonymous as a rule, are usually exceedingly brave both in word and deed. I hope Harper gives you ...
• MRM, Courage is a very small thing. Too bad you can't find any of it within you. Ditto for Informed1. You guys in the war room are supposed to be plann...
• MRM, Who did you say you are? You can twist my former membership in the CPC anyway you want. I don't much care. Keep spinning it to suit your nefarious pu...
• MRM, I didn't quite get your name. Keep up that overconfidence. I like my opponents arrogant and self-righteous. If you don't mind, I'll wait to kis...
• How would you know? Not too many Conservatives talk to anonymous shadows. Last time I checked, only Michel Rivard was still saying that Harper was "son...
• God knows you guys are used to it but you are not ordinarily on the receiving end. I hope you didn't miss the At Issue Panel last Thursday!
• To The Tag Team Of Protective Anonymity: Now that you guys have taken a well deserved break from character assassination, which granted, you both exceed a...
• Predicting The Conservative Goverment's Budget Deficit: At this holiday time of year, I'm pleased to report that the Prime Minister has flipped- flopped a...
• Gohabs1, They will continue to smear everyone who opposes them all the way to political disaster. I've noticed that many of the traditional CPC posters ar...
• Now Stephen, you are getting a tad testy aren't you. Too bad it took your recent dramatic internet revelations to smoke you out. Talk about the pot calling t...
• And your name would be? It does my heart good to see that I have your wholehearted endorsement. Thanks!
• Who are you? You can get to a CPC Senate majority but you'll never see seven provinces behind you for Senate Reform. Don't count those chickens until they...
• Have we met? My name is Ron. And yours is? Prior to my switching to the Liberals, the answer was officially no but unofficially yes. Today, it is yes on b...
• You sure don't have much class for an anonymous person...
• Have we met before? I can't remember your name. Why don't YOU call up Rivard and get back to me. Rivard won't be calling me because he can no longer sell ...
• Stephen, Payola for a fart who went from one unremunerated insignificant party position in the CPC to another in the LPC. Get serious. We're aren't talkin...
• Please identify yourself, Mother Theresa. Remember, honesty requires it. Right back at you!
• Yeah right. I had no idea that you were a therapist. P.S. I wouldn't call my personal interaction with the PM "meetings". I prefer to look upon them as fo...
• Just name the time and place next time you are down here. I'll be there and if you play nice, you might even get a drink out of it.
• You can call it stupid if you like. With O'Dowd, what you see is what you get. Same for the written page.
• MRM, I can think of three men but will tread lightly here. The first gentleman, I've met twice. He is extremely well regarded by those coming from the PCP...
• Stephen, I'm not pope. I call 'em like I see 'em. Some like it, some don't but those are the breaks in politics. Harper has his way of doing things. I tho...
• Stephen, Take a deep breath. Do you really want to go down the road of unintended consequences? The PMO will not take kindly to your course of action if y...
• You can go on as long as you like. For my part, I have nothing further to discuss with you. Remember, we are not in politics. We have not been elected to any...
• Made In Canada Only, Never say never! The LPC may one day have a leader from Western Canada -- in theory, Western Canada could one day become solidly Libe...
• Budget Prediction "Poll". Hopefully, this thread will mark a return to sanity on this board. I'm interested in two-word postings (or more if you want to e...
• MRM, Good script. However, it is a little vague on details, not to mention identities. Please don't quit your day job and rush off to Hollywood looking...
• MRM, List them. Prove it.
• MRM, I'm not in Harper's league. Please concentrate your efforts on him. After all, he is running a government. I'm just an ordinary Joe citizen in front ...
• MRM, I guess you are not as highly placed as I thought...
• MRM, Congratulations! You definitely win on points...for now.
• MRM, It isn't gossip. Make a few calls!
• MRM, Nice to see you hold me in such esteem. It's mutual I'm sure.
• MRM, Sorry. It is factually correct because I was in the room, in Ottawa, when one of the scenes in that drama went down. Now let's catch QP and be don...
• MRM, I quite enjoy playing ping pong with you. However, you have to understand that I do not hold any political office -- politicians at all levels of gov...
• My Senate Prediction: I think I know the mind of the Prime Minister enough to be on solid ground with the following prediction: if the announcement is mad...
• MRM, Harper is too smart to choose b. The PM is afraid of a voter backlash, even in an election provoked by his government's defeat by the opposition part...
• MRM, It would not be appropriate to make public the details of this mess. I have respect for one of the ministers involved so I will not go any further wi...
• Please Tear 24 Sussex Drive Down! I realize that all this falls into the bailiwick of the National Capital Commission but spending ten million dollars to ...
• Made In Canada Only, She was a cabinet minister in Mulroney's government.
• Made In Canada Only, I agree that it could be called the House of Hacks but once in there, most senators, from all parties (and former parties) do a grea...
• Made In Canada Only, I might have it wrong because I haven't been following it closely but it is my understanding that GM and Chrysler have to pay back th...
• MRM, Oh yes you will. I will now speak in incredibly over-generalized terms to pass along the message: We met only once. We had an interesting outdoor ...
• Made In Canada Only, You should have some admiration for Jim Munson. Remember when he was working for CTV and went toe to toe with Trudeau. It almost turn...
• Made In Canada Only, You shouldn't be reading things like that. You might be tempted to come on over to the dark side!
• Peter3, To my mind, you are an outstanding strategist. If you work for any party, they are incredibly lucky to have you.
• Gohabs1, No question that the party will pull the plug ASAP, i.e. when finances, party organization and leader satisfaction is as high as we can make it. ...
• Larry, Harper and Flaherty's performance asking for help and suggestions is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The PM will do whatever is necessary by w...
• MRM, Wasn't expecting you to. I will say this much. It shows that the war room has learned from their mistakes. As you know, I did not have much regard...
• MRM, When do you think Rivard will give me a call to tell me about his new job? Since my cash dried up, there haven't been many fingers doing much walking...
• MRM, You shouldn't be. After all, we both know him very, very well. He is your typical Conservative.
• Made In Canada Only, No she didn't. I suspect that some of the potential nominees backed away at the last minute not wanting to run in a Senate election. ...
• Made In Canada Only, I'm down two-thirds and like Maxwell Smart would say: "and loving it". I live in a dangerous world as far as investments are concerne...
• MRM, Same to you and your family. I even hope the PM and his family have a nice holiday. We may have our differences politically but being with family is ...
• MRM, Thank you. Best wishes for the New Year as well. Are we becoming the new Adams and Jefferson?! I can appreciate that given your important position...
• In Search Of Political Serendipity. I'm struck by the fact that this title is particularly well suited to the recent machinations of the Prime Minister and ...
• Lex Llewdor, Quite obviously they discussed it -- he was in there for three hours. One doesn't have to work too hard to read those tea leaves: she made it...
• Lex Llewdor, Thank you. I will admit that I was once again painting with brush strokes that were too broad -- under the "secondary" scenario, I speculated t...
• Lex, I'm with you but only to a point: while I agree that it is exceedingly difficult for people to understand complex ideas, I find Rex Murphy's take on ...
• Harper's Feet Have Turned To Clay! I wonder which part of the Ipsos-Reid poll I should start with -- the fact that the PM continues to lead as best PM -- no...
• MRM, The title of the article is totally irrelevant to those of us who are political strategists. It is our job to take the long view -- there is no Ignatie...
• Gohabs1, Well, we know that the winds aren't exactly blowing in Harper's direction when the outgoing U.S. Ambassador, David Wilkins, expresses publicly Pres...
• MRM, Political strategy is what I do -- I've done it for years and no I'm not being paid for it. I'm a gifted amateur, at best! (Many of you might argue the...
• Lex Llewdor, Work with me for a moment. I'm talking about a shifting political paradigm -- I'm talking about building future political momentum. I'm not say...
• MRM, Yours is a flawed strategy. You can't inspire increased confidence in a sitting government by constantly shitting on the other guy's attributes, or all...
• MRM, The content of the budget will define whether Canadians perceive this government as a good government. The ball is clearly in Harper's court. Will he f...
• MRM, Since the public's anger about the coalition is rapidly dissipating your hopes are in vain. The PM had his chance and he blew it. He couldn't muster up...
• Gohabs1, Re: Point 3 - coming from that party I can confirm that though some may want Harper out, no one has the balls to do anything about it. In any case,...
• No Election Folks! Well, it's official now -- Conservative strategists do not expect an election anytime soon. How do I know that? Why, Myriam Taschereau ...
• MRM, By its very nature, the budget is a proactive document. As a result, this gives an advantage to the CPC. The opposition in general and the Liberals i...
• Larry, You're not suggesting that if we vote in March that we can win a majority. Because of the PM's reluctance, their majority window has passed. So it ...
• Larry, I don't say I necessarily buy into the theory but what about the old adage that the people in the boat won't want to change captain during rough ec...

New Nanos National Poll - CP, 32%, LP 30%, NDP 20%, GP 10%, BQ 9% (2008-11-19)

• Tom Good, At first blush, two things come immediately to mind: if this poll marks the beginning of a trend, the PM has lost big -- not because of the numb...
• Since it is not politically expedient to raise revenues by hiking taxes (including consumption taxes) that is precisely what lies down the fiscal road. Fl...
• Foxer, I can only speak for myself. I vote one way and may or may not reveal my true intention to the pollster, if called. My dad used to say it was co...
• Foxer, One more thing. My dad's been dead for almost two (2) years now but the tag team of Doug and Irwin are still hitting him up for money. It did no go...
• Tom, I think the Quebec election (the much hated one) will be rather telling. If Charest gets his majority government, IMHO, that will be a direct cue to ...
• Foxer, [wink] You know how we are in Quebec! We're thinking, it's high time to belly up to the trough after many a generous financial contribution but ...
• Will the government's intention to abolish public financing for political parties provoke an election? And if so, will it lead to a Harper majority or conver...
• Informed1, Playing Russian roulette is not my idea of a fun time.
• Informed1, I agree that a viable business plan for the Big 3 is an absolute necessity both in the U.S. or in Canada before injecting taxpayer money. That ...
• He was quite clearly a combatant. But it is a stretch to say he killed the medic with the grenade. Motive, opportunity and the causal relationship must be es...
• Foxer, Come on. Don't you remember how the Prime Minister was nothing more than an Alliance joke when he was leader of that party. Harper couldn't get vot...
• Informed1, This is political showboating of the highest order: we both know what percentage 30 million dollars is of total federal spending. It is quite l...
• Larryl, Bloc support does not lend itself to Liberal crossover. In Quebec, the Conservatives gain votes at the expense of the Liberals, or vice versa. The...
• Informed1, You are hardly an amateur at this game. You know full well that if this goes ahead, Layton and especially Duceppe will not take cabinet posts. ...
• Informed1, Trudeau is dead. Chrétien and Martin are unavailable. In short, no former PM to take the helm of the party. As a result, Dion gets to carry the...
• Larryl, The Bloc was founded by breakaway Progressive Conservative MPs from Quebec under the leadership of Lucien Bouchard. Jean Lapierre, a John Turner c...
• Chretien and Broadbent have been mandated by Dion and Layton to work out a deal. They have been meeting for four (4) days and will meet again today...
• Foxer, My NEXT prediction! The PM will move up the announcement of the DATE for the economic rescue package. I will be looking to see Cory's smiling fa...
• Gohabs1, I do not disagree with your assessment. In the last campaign, as I spoke with people in my riding (Louis-Hébert) they told me that they did not l...
• Gordo05, I said prior to the last election that the PM held all the aces -- that the GG would not allow the opposition parties to form a government since ...
• Tom Good, The PM has damaged the Conservative brand -- many of us saw Harper as a political pragmatist, as a man who would mollify his right-wing when nec...
• Why Harper Is Doomed. Stephen Harper is a man who is tempermentally ill-suited to occupy the office of Prime Minister of Canada. The man has shown us that...
• Larryl, As of today, I doubt anyone will be referring to me as a loyal Conservative. I have recently taken the decision to break with the CPC. I will a...
• Larryl, Thank you. From this point on, I will be supporting the Liberal Party of Canada. As a little ant, I have a lot of work to do to help build the ...
• Mar, It is all academic. As you may know, the government has cancelled two confidence votes in the House scheduled for Monday. That speaks volumes, doesn'...
• MRM, I was a nobody in the CPC. Why are you upset about it? Seems to me that the CPC is more than capable of running its tremendous braintrust without my ...
• Larry, All the best to you during these difficult times. You are a fighter and I hope your health will soon be restored to peak condition. Canada can u...
• MRM, Have you no conception of political reality? Do you think that I'm the only person who has decided that Harper's clumsy attempt to bankrupt the oppos...
• It is funny! But I would not rather speculate about Dion or Harper's privates.
• Informed1, Respectfully, we will disagree. I will always appreciate your input as well as that of Foxer and holinim. Is it a grab for power? Of course ...
• Holden Caulfield, Well, then I guess it's a battle of the constitutional experts...one side is right and one is wrong. I don't practice Constitutional law...
• Gohabs1, Thanks. Again, I could be wrong but I think the PM is far from down and out. I've met Harper several times in the past and was able to get a p...
• Informed1, We can go back and forth on this all day but neither of us will be swayed by the others' opinion. I respect your opinion but as I said before a...
• Informed1, Prior to my recent decision, I supported at the federal level the Progressive Conservative and Conservative parties -- if the writ is dropped,...
• Larryl, My best guess is that Dion will serve as interim PM, if this goes ahead (and that's a big IF) until May, or until the then "government" is defeate...
• Conservatives, as the song goes: "All we are saying, is give peace a chance. All we are saying, is..." give Harper's chief of staff a chance! Isn't this j...
• MRM, I agree with you. I am in illustrious company: you forgot a guy called Stephen Harper -- who used to support the Liberals and Pierre E. Trudeau; ...
• Gohabs1, The Conservatives are likely to prorogue. As you know, that means the government will be defeated on the budget and Harper and Dion will go into ...

On the Harper election win (Nanos Sun Column) (2008-11-04)

• Hollinm, I share many of your concerns. In spite of the optimistic musings of Informed 1, our party has been cut off at the pass and the message is clear:...
• Tom Good, It is a given that self-delusion is the mother's milk of most political parties (except the truly smart ones!)...there must be a rather impressi...
• Informed1, I agree that throwing taxpayer money at the problem is not the way to go in the U.S. I'm hoping that Obama's health-care plan will provide some...
• Informed 1, Now ain't that precious. Boy, did I get a laugh when I read that one. Limit our participation in the provincial campaign: what rot. With t...
• None of the opposition whips are idiots. It is in none of their interests to go to the polls anytime soon. They know how to count and will make sure Harper s...
• Larryl, I agree that timing is everything in politics! Where the saviour is particularly vulnerable is in Quebec -- we must remember that many of thos...
• Informed1, I have addressed the bungling ineptitude of the Quebec strategists in my comments. Nothing more. Same pattern as usual, regrettably so. Howe...
• Informed1, I believe it is optimistic to bury the Liberals when they are far from dead. We have the Liberals down on the canvas but they know how to get u...
• Made In Canada Only, Are you sure you are not a Liberal plant? With built-in arrogance and that precious holier-than-thou attitude, I thought I could smel...
• Tom Good, You really don't play fair. It's been at least three minutes and I'm still laughing. A good one, I must admit. I hope you aren't a Liberal strat...
• Larryl, Don't you know that most of us who go on blogs are actually masochists at heart. We enjoy looking for trouble and many of us know how to find it!
• Harper and Obama. Call me stupid but I don't see it. Can somehow please explain to me precisely how these two gentlemen will work together on the Environm...
• Informed1, Let's get down to brass tacks. Our ministers and MPs are for the most part, trained seals. They do what they are told without question or analy...
• I agree with many of these points. Harper wants a partnership with Obama. Call me skeptical on that one as my new topic illustrates.
• Larryl, I believe that Harper is sincere in seeking areas of common ground. I simply think that there is no common ground to be found, except at the margi...
• Respectfully, I disagree about the cabinet. Government works best and the cabinet system functions correctly when strong ministers are around the table and f...
• Made In Canada Only, Why are you so stuck up on Liberal judges? Don't you think that at the provincial level that judges are often selected based on their...
• Made In Canada Only, Sorry to disappoint you, but I might be the Conservative Fool of the Month. My membership number is: C16922818.
• God knows you're living proof of that.
• I agree as to all issues regarding the North American security perimeter. As I stated previously, the proof will be in the pudding on environmental issues...
• Made In Canada Only, Too bad you don't have the guts to enlighten all us idiots under your own name. A mind like yours deserves to be revealed to the publ...
• Hollinm, Your arguments are persuasive. Both yourself and Informed1 have shown that the PM has much more going for him with regard to this possibility tha...
• Yes, the RCMP operates only in areas of federal jurisdiction in the province of Quebec but is available should a request come from the provincial government,...
• Agreed on all counts. I doubt they will disturb Pelletier. I hear that the poor man is suffering from cancer but I can't confirm that.
• Where Art Thou Oh Quebec Wing?! I couldn't help but chuckle with news that the Conservative Party is dragging out an old retread as a possible fix for the...
• Gohabs1, As you know, there is the theoretical possibility of going ever further than a wing -- as you joking mentioned, a full-fledged party could be cr...
• Informed1, As we both acknowledge, Quebec will not be a priority for the party. You will probably also agree that a provincial wing is a complete waste of...
• Informed1, Thanks. Let's just say that the Premier is a lot more confident than I am -- I'm worried about the francophone vote and the PQ lead... As fo...
• Boy, am I getting old... It was a lunch, I believe, and it was in Riviere-du-Loup. I mean, what a blunder. It was liking deliberately waving a red flag...
• Informed1, As a former member of the fourth estate, I can tell you that political parties screw the media at their own peril -- we can argue whether Ignat...
• Informed1, Well what do you know, Conservatives in Quebec are half-pregnant! We didn't get a provincial CP, we didn't exactly get a provincial wing of ...
• I'm counting on those of you in the know to please bring me up to speed. Who will be the next House of Commons speaker? Will it be the return of Milliken ...
• Thanks! I've seen Galipeau in action and he would indeed be a solid choice. (As an amusing aside, many was the time I watched my former MP standing bes...

Conservative Victory Propelled by Ontario Voters (2008-10-15)

• The Enigma That Is Stephen Harper. To begin, I want to make a few general observations about the Nanos polling: what strikes me is the fact that the elect...
• Hello Larryl, Thanks! Question 1: Yes - our policy convention is in a couple of weeks in Winnipeg. Our party president Don Plett is smiling, he will be...
• Larryl, It starts on the 13th and ends on the 15th. FYI, I won't be there because I'm not a delegate. (I did go to Montreal in 2005.)
• Larryl, What interests me is whether Liberals are preoccupied with "generational" change. Will they go anywhere with a guy from the sixtyish set or can th...
• Sorry Larryl. If there is only one constant in the Conservative universe, it is the fact that the PM always, eventually, learns from his mistakes...Harper wi...
• Informed1, Macro: -most Quebecers are left of center, without a move to the center (as seen by electors in this province), seat gains are, at best, dif...
• As to the lack of ground forces, it has been my experience that many ridings in the Quebec City region signed up hundreds of new members prior to the electio...
• Informed1, It all boils down to which came first, the chicken or the egg: you can't build a team unless party positions reflect Quebec values and resonate...
• Larryl, There is some truth to your points: at Montreal, all hell broke lose on Friday when the platform went off the rails as the Alliance contingent vot...
• Rae can't win for two huge reasons: 1. With the Liberals already much weaker in Ontario, they can't risk choosing a leader who has already severely aliena...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 35, LP 30, NDP 22, BQ 7, GP 6 (ending September 21) (2008-09-22)

• Bugsbunny, What's up Doc? It may not bother you to have this Prime Minister in office for up to eight years but I think I speak for most Canadians when I s...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 38, LP 30, NDP 17, GP 9, BQ 6 (ending September 13) (2008-09-14)

• TPQ, You sure don't sound like your worried...I think they heard your same message on the Titanic. Remember, the truth will set you free. Harper is center...
• gretag, Let's face it. People vote for the man, as regrettable as that may be in a parliamentary system. Harper is perceived as strong -- Dion as weak. Th...
• I'll keep it short and sweet: -the CPC is stalled; -the LPC has levelled out; -the NDP has the clear momentum of the campaign and is rising steadily...
• TPQ, I fully agree with you. This will be the nastiest federal campaign ever. That is not my brand of Conservatism and I hope the other parties in addi...
• TPQ, The hidden agenda didn't work last time (when we had no track record in government leading people to fear the worst) and it won't work this time eith...
• Re: The U.S. Election I've flipflopped again. (Just call me Dion or Harper!). I think McCain made a serious error in selecting Sarah Palin. Even though C...
• TPQ, What's your take on the Quebec numbers? I expected to see either the BQ or CPC drop -- but not BOTH. In Quebec City, the Liberals seemed to be plu...
• TPQ, One way or another, I predict Brigitte Legault will be a rising star in your party. She is very impressive. No wonder she went down to help out Hilla...
• Larryl, W's statement is a hoot. I think Biden made a mistake if he said that. Hillary's negatives are consistently in the high 50s -- last time I checked...
• I pray to God that nothing happens to Barack if elected. As for VPs, the country would do well with either Biden or Hillary. That is why Palin is such a d...
• Sorry Larryl but that type of stuff gives me the creeps. No I never heard of it but actuarial tables exist for almost everything, I guess. As for the nega...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 38, LP 30, NDP 15, BQ 9, GP 8 (ending September 12) (2008-09-13)

• Nik, Here's an amateur's take on the national results: After three (3) days of the rolling poll, the Conservatives (my party) are holding firm. It is t...
• Larryl, With all due respect to Dryden, who is a fine man, Liberal delegates made their judgment on his leadership abilities at the last convention. In my...
• Larryl, Sometimes second or third best is better than first best. Just ask Jean Charest, he's been all three!!!!!!!
• NAIT, Jack has a way to go yet. Does anyone seriously believe that the NDP can win enough seats so he can be PM? If so, and it happens, then that perso...
• Larryl, Whether you like Mulroney or not, one must admit that the man was not a coward running away from the tough decisions. Mulroney tackled the FTA, th...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 38, LP 31, NDP 14, BQ 9, GP 9 (ending September 11) (2008-09-12)

• I agree. You can hate a politician's guts, have an absolutely rock-solid conviction that you will not vote for that particular person and nonetheless STILL i...
• TPQ, In the Nanos poll, twenty (20) percent are undecided (+1) and that strikes me as interesting. If the undecided continues to creep up, that will not b...

CPAC-Nanos Tracking CP 37, LP 32, NDP 13, BQ 9, GP 9 (ending September 10) (2008-09-11)

• rsharp, I don't take these numbers too seriously -- remember that on the "factor questions" that the undecided vary from 26 to 31 percent. That is a lot o...
• Nik, With roughly a third of the voters undecided, the debates should be crucial in winnowing out the undecided and establishing a firm polling trend. The...
• larryl, If only the party establishment was as rock solid as I am. They have discovered that in recent weeks!
• elf, Remember the old joke that we all knew Chrétien was speaking but we weren't quite sure in what language since he did not seem to speak either of Cana...
• Blarghman, The federalist vote in Quebec has traditionally been Liberal by a wide margin. Last election, most Liberals deserted the party in the wake of S...

LP 35, CP 33, NDP 17, BQ 8, GP 7 - Harper leads as best PM (New Nanos Poll) (2008-08-29)

• TPQ, With the not all together insignificant opposition in caucus for the present form of the Green Shift, I expect it to be rejigged as the Liberal caucu...
• Larryl, I think the Nanos numbers are a reason for pause. Harper should pull back in my opinion but he won't since the train has already left the station ...
• Foxer, Once again, we are in agreement -- with the unexpected uptick in the American economy, I think the U.S. has hit bottom thus avoiding a full-fledged...
• TPQ, I will give you this much. I agree that a minority win by Dion is a distinct possibility under one scenario. Another, sees Harper re-elected with a m...
• Foxer, Respectfully, I think you are dead wrong. Harper is not foolish enough to think he can destroy the Liberals. That is the dreaming in technicolour v...
• Sorry Larryl, but as Brian so eloquently said: "You go to the party with them that brung you." I will be working in the next campaign in a riding. I hope you...
• Gordo05, Like a newly wise good little boy, I'll cross that bridge if and when I come to it! I've learned quite a few lessons from my previous association...
• The logic escapes me as well and I'm a Conservative.
• Larryl, A week is a lifetime in politics: remember how Harper was perceived in 2002 when he became Alliance leader: he couldn't sell lemonade in the middl...
• Larryl, Remember, Preston said it: "Reform". My party has changed, it is now controlled by the West and that political mentality. That will not last forev...
• You know me very well. Truer words were never spoken (about the fun part). I see I was smart to write under my own name!
• Foxer, Are you saying to me that if Dion blows it, that under McGuinty, the Liberals would be cash-strapped? Au contraire, the Ontario money-machine that ...
• Foxer, To quote one of my teachers in Elementary School: As the nun said: "If there's a will, there's a way." Amen, brother.
• Foxer, The Globe and Mail is reporting that Harper & Layton's meeting gave birth to a "dud"...I guess everyone on this board knows what that means. The ca...
• Oh Larryl, now you've done it, getting me to lower another of my veils! I supported Belinda (as did 70% of Quebec members) during the leadership race. You ca...
• Peter3, I still say it is one hell of an unnecessary gamble. This is not craps. At least, if most of the polling was tracking consistently the same way, I...
• TPQ, What's your prediction? Are you going to hold everything you have on the Island of Montreal? Are you going to pick up seats on the South Shore? Will ...
• Blair Wilson. Breakthrough for the Greens or one-day wonder? What will be the effect on the Greens polling numbers? What will be their seat count, if a...
• Larryl, You can't have a constitutional crisis just ahead of an election. The G-G knows her role and wouldn't have signed on to the job unless she was wil...
• TPQ, LOL. I love it when Liberals says that the NDP and the BQ are soon to be history. Respectfully, get real. There is only one way to get rid of the NDP...
• Larryl, And I thought you'd never have a nice word to say about the PM!
• TPQ, Your point cannot really be argued against. You are right but we both know that the electorate, particularly unsophisticated voters (no offense inten...
• Best Or Worst Line Heard So Far: Jack Layton: I'll be applying for Stephen Harper's job! (Worst.)
• Come on Larryl -- this statement isn't even remotely credible and we both know it.
• Larryl, Were the G-G to refuse to dissolve Parliament, IMHO, that would create a constitutional crisis not seen since King-Byng. I believe that most const...
• Larryl, Although the EU has a considerable level of supra-nationality, each individual member remains a nation-state with a sovereign parliament that can ...
• Rusty001, Like Dion and Harper, I've suddenly developed a bad case of flip-flopitis -- I speculated elsewhere that Harper might have polling indicating th...
• Larryl, If she proceeds in the manner which you suggest, which I doubt in the strongest possible terms, you will have proven yourself to be a far better p...
• You must be kidding Foxer. Does this mean you will be attending my wedding to Eva?? Jack's statement does not even have the veneer of political credibilit...
• TPQ, Bought a copy of the book. Interesting read. Yes, I am a center-left Red Tory while Harper is center-right but he is not from the far-right. Harper h...
• Foxer, I could have it wrong but doesn't Nicholson's government bill replace the private-member's bill?
• Globe and Mail/CTV Poll by Strategic Counsel: CPC: 37 LPC: 29 NDP: 17 GPC: 9 As per usual, this continues the trend of the polls being all ove...
• Larryl, I'm afraid that I have no expertise in this matter -- only an uneducated guess. That is why I'm punting the ball to Nik -- if he has a minute. Tha...
• Thank you. No reputable polling firm would skew their results. Their reputation is everything, as in many other professions (except politics!)... The p...
• Larryl, To my knowledge, Nanos is the only pollster that uses a "rolling poll" -- if Nik does it again this cycle for CPAC, you will see the electorate sh...
• Foxer, It certainly is looking good for a seat increase in Quebec but unless we pass the Bloc by a considerable margin, it won't be more than 5-10, IMHO. ...
• Foxer, I feel confident, in spite of a solid polling trend, that we will be re-elected with another minority government. I have trouble swallowing the Env...
• Larryl, Roughly speaking, it is my theory that the three main federalist parties will all make gains in Quebec -- at least in the popular vote! We are lik...
• Larryl, It will depend on the campaign. Remember as Mansbridge said last night on the At Issue Panel, how Turner blew the first part of the campaign. If H...
• Garth, I have nothing but the deepest sympathy for the plight of unemployed workers in Ontario and across Canada. I was once one myself and I well remembe...
• Larryl, I am not authorized to speak on behalf of the party. If that status changes, I will let you know. P.S. Please don't go into comedy -- it doesn'...
• Foxer, Remember, no politician will ever make it into heaven! They are the only profession that give us lawyers a good name...
• Foxer, There is no question that the national media in general, and the parliamentary press gallery in particular, will be gunning for us (compared to las...
• Foxer, As you know, it's a no-brainer: as any photographic purist would tell you -- of course, you use black and white!
• All, Personally, I don't give a crock of shit about Air Dion...it is so piddling and picayune, it is not worth emitting vast quantities of hot air arguing...
• Gilles Duceppe: Le Bloc est présent au Québec. Right -- present but mostly ineffectual therefore unaccountable for their performance in Parliament. Nice reti...
• TPQ, Who can forget the last time that happened...what a sight it was with the premiers screaming bloody murder because some guy was downloading his defic...
• Nothing more frustrating that watching third-rate political strategists at work in the CPC, NDP and BQ...they just don't get it. It's not only The At Issue P...
• Strategists from the lobbyist division of all parties have been known to post anonymously on boards. I could name at least two of ours, but I won't!!
• Larryl, In my judgment, the ad strategy can no longer be considered as a net positive.
• Larryl, The two strategists that I know of are Conservative. I have no idea if they are active on this or any other board. My riding is Louis-Hebert. W...
• Foxer, Have I got this right? Are you calling the Liberals "pooping puffins"? If so, we finally have something in common with Her Majesty's Loyal O...
• Foxer, I will give you four possible election scenarios: 1. The polls until election day show a slow steady climb of Conservative fortunes. The CPC num...

Time for federal politicians to refocus (Nanos Sun Media Column) (2008-08-18)

• Hi Nik, I've been saying for an eternity that McCain will win in a close election. Sexism was subtly responsible for Hillary's demise while subtle racism ...
• I'm in need of a serious drink...it seems to me that one of the elementary rules of politics is that you don't provoke your own government's demise to replac...
• Larryl, You made me chuckle when you called us a "band of thieves". If that is so, then so are the Liberals for sleeping at the switch on Sponsorship. Aft...
• TPQ, I was against this ad strategy from the get go. Negative ads work in campaigns under some circumstances but not under others -- I could be wrong but ...
• Larryl, I am not employed by either the government or the party. I also do not hold any position as a volunteer.
• Larryl, As a lawyer, I have to be careful here. When I spoke of stolen money it was because several defendants had been convicted in criminal trials. ...
• Foxer, I find your comments most enlightening. You make many excellent points that are within the serious realms of possibility.
• Larryl, The ultimate judge and jury on In and Out will be the court of public opinion. The voters will weight the evidence and render a judgment on the co...
• TPQ, Whether we're talking of the hearings in 2004 or today, in my view, the Ethics Committee is never an impartial body capable of adjudicating whether w...
• TPQ, MRM, Too bad I don't practice in Constitutional Law. TPQ, respectfully, I tend to agree with MRM's view but I'm no expert on the matter. Besides,...
• I have no way of knowing whether Guite was a card-carrying Liberal but I suspect he was not bearing in mind his position in the public service. As for Bra...
• IMHO, in the world of real politik, I don't see the G-G turning down a dissolution request from a sitting Prime Minister. I have a better chance of marrying ...
• Our party should, as René Lévesque famously said, "take a Valium" -- Harper should take a long deep breath. Some think he is bluffing. I don't. Personally...
• Foxer, As you may know, I live in the Quebec City region. Generally, I find the CROP/La Presse poll encouraging. However, I would contrast it with other p...
• TPQ, No question that Emerson is one of the most solid ministers in the cabinet. His departure will reduce the heft in cabinet. However, I wouldn't rea...
• TPQ, Foxer, You know what this means. Bourque will be unavailable for a while -- too busy constantly calling the body shop to find out when the painted b...
• Obviously, I was not clear enough in the way I expressed my point: I'm arguing that the G-G will not ask the Opposition Leader to try and form a government t...
• What about Plamondon? Is he on the mark when he says that he suspects that Harper may have the numbers pointing to a majority win? Is Harper being clever ...
• Larryl, Sorry. Bob Plamondon is a Conservative "insider" who has written several books and is in the process of writing another book on the party. I gu...
• Larryl, You may be an amateur at this but to my mind, you have the keen instinct of a political strategist. For my part, I have no idea what Harper is rea...
• TPQ, As Truman said: "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen". IMHO, this is a fight to the political death -- either Harper or Dion will be ...
• Larryl, I hope you will reconsider my suggestion -- it is precisely because you have such a love of country that it would be appropriate for you to get in...

Both Harper and Dion face greater risks than their rhetoric suggests (Nanos Sun Column) (2008-07-21)

• As a Conservative, I also sense the growing malaise pervasive among the electorate -- people are disillusioned with both major parties and seem ready to cons...
• What I wouldn't give for a professor to tackle this issue. I certainly don't favour screwing "the West". But a reasonable transfer of wealth to the less fort...
• Hi Larryl, I live in Quebec City. Right now, in the immediate area, the Bloc holds the Quebec City riding (Christiane Gagnon) while former radio star Andr...
• I don't think it will backfire. Most people are proud of the celebrations and are grateful for the money from the federal and provincial governments. I fe...

The Federal Tories - Poking Ontario with a sharp stick (Sun Media Column) (2008-03-31)

• It's too bad to see everyday Liberals and Conservatives adopting the same sleazy and unappetizing banter that has been enthusiastically adopted by their so-c...

Afghanistan Vote and the Issue Environment (Video Blog Post) (2008-03-14)

• Gents, I think that hollinm and parnel are a good representation of the electoral divide in this country -- Harper has to convince the parnels of this wor...
• MRM, Sponsorship is no longer an effective club with which Conservatives can efficiently beat Liberals. The public has moved on, for the most part, and ma...
• In my opinion, the by-elections are nothing more than a wash for either the CPC or the LPC. We can debate until the cows come home but there is no clear d...
• Private members can present bills on abortion or the death penalty. That is their right as members of Parliament. No thinking government of any political str...
• Thank you all for your comments. Now let's see if we can coax Parnel into giving us his views on the following (all of yours would be appreciated as well!...

What will be the impact of the Cadman affair? (Video Blog Post) (2008-03-09)

• This issue is big trouble for us. Cadman's widow (a Conservative candidate), their daughter and son-in-law back up the book's claim though Mrs. Cadman believ...

Election fraught with risks - Nanos Ballot - Lib 33, Con 31, NDP 19, BQ 10, GP 8 (2008-02-08)

• Respectfully, I disagree. I believe that you can't ignore the high level of both racism and sexism that is regretably much too pervasive in the United States...
• I agree that Harper should have given Ontario all the seats to which it is entitled. That decision was small-minded in my opinion. I'm all for more seats in ...
• I would make two minor points: to begin, I wonder about the composition of the Green Party. Prior to Elizabeth May's election as leader, it was known in some...
• SaskKen, I've been advocating moving left for quite some time. But then again, I'm perhaps one of only a few proud Red Tories who have not abandoned ship....
• Hi SaskKen, I can tell you that on Epp's bill, I'm with Josee Verner who voted against it. She represents the riding next to mine. As for my MP, (Luc Harv...

Too many election risks (2008-01-22)

• I agree. Harper still has a chance to turn things around thanks to the Liberals. The Liberals are an incredibly disciplined machine when it comes to the high...
• This week is already off to a bad start for us. With Hillier allegedly screaming at the PMO and Spector allegedly about to give quite a performance before th...
• In fact, the Conservatives did abstain on the vote for the Martin 2005 budget.
• My thinking is really starting to shift as we wind down toward an election. I'm getting the sense that a showdown at the polls is imminent. Most voters don't...

Federal Political Year in Review - Challenges and Opportunities for 2008 (2007-12-27)

• As a Conservative, I find it incredibly troubling to see my government floundering -- we should be miles ahead of the Liberals instead of slightly ahead or b...
• Thanks to all for your comments. My account is flagged as Ontario since the system would not accept my postal code, my mother's and a few others that I tr...